SB170 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jerry L. Fielding

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Del Marsh

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Courts, district, small claims division, jurisdiction increased, filing fees remain as were before increased jurisdiction, Secs. 12-11-30, 12-12-31, 12-19-71, 12-19-72 am'd.

Summary

SB170 increases the small claims division limit to $6,000 and keeps filing fees the same while updating related filing-fee rules.

What This Bill Does

It raises the small claims division's maximum amount in controversy from $3,000 to $6,000. This means more cases can be handled in the district court's small claims division instead of going to the circuit court. It also updates the statutes that set filing fees and how those fees are distributed to reflect the new limit, but the actual fee amounts stay the same as before. The changes apply to the districts' civil and small claims procedures in sections 12-11-30, 12-12-31, 12-19-71, and 12-19-72.

Who It Affects

• Individuals, partnerships, and corporations filing civil cases in district court, for whom cases up to $6,000 could be processed in the district court's small claims division under simplified procedures.
• Litigants and the courts (district and circuit) since the filing-fee amounts and their fund distributions are kept the same, meaning costs and funding flows do not change despite the shift in which cases may be handled in small claims.

Key Provisions

• Increases small claims division jurisdiction from $3,000 to $6,000 for matters in controversy.
• Amends Sections 12-11-30, 12-12-31, 12-19-71, and 12-19-72 to reflect the new jurisdiction and related filing-fee rules.
• Keeps filing fees and their distribution amounts the same as before the revisions.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage/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

Courts