HB116 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joe Hubbard

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Courts, district and small claims division, jurisdictional limits increased, Secs.12-11-30, 12-12-30, 12-19-71, 12-19-72 am'd

Summary

HB116 would raise the district court's civil jurisdiction to $25,000 and move cases above that threshold to the circuit court, with updated filing fees.

What This Bill Does

The bill increases the district court's limit for civil actions to $25,000 (exclusive of interest and costs). Circuit court would have exclusive original jurisdiction for civil actions over $25,000, while cases between $3,000 and $25,000 would be heard with concurrent jurisdiction in both courts. It also changes the small claims framework and updates the civil filing fees and their distribution to state and local funds. The effective date is the first day of the third month after signing into law.

Who It Affects

• Civil litigants (plaintiffs and defendants) whose cases are up to $25,000 will file in district court under the new threshold; cases over $25,000 move to circuit court.
• People paying court filing fees and their attorneys, since filing amounts, additional plaintiff fees, jury demand fees, and fee distribution to funds are updated.

Key Provisions

• Section 12-11-30: increases district/circuit civil jurisdiction thresholds to $25,000; circuit has exclusive jurisdiction over actions above $25,000; concurrent jurisdiction with district for actions above $3,000.
• Section 12-12-30: district court original civil jurisdiction up to $25,000 (with certain exceptions and limitations).
• Sections 12-19-71 and 12-19-72: overhaul of filing fees for small claims and circuit/district court cases, including new base amounts, additional plaintiff fees, jury-demand fee, and specified distributions to Fair Trial Tax Fund, State General Fund, Advanced Technology and Data Exchange Fund, and county funds.
• Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Civil Procedure