HB7 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Margie WilcoxRepresentative

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2015

Title

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, distribution of funds from BP settlement, road and bridge projects in Baldwin and Mobile Counties, insurance reform

Summary

HB7 would divert half of BP Deepwater Horizon settlement proceeds that would go to the State General Fund to fund insurance reform and road projects in Baldwin and Mobile counties.

What This Bill Does

The bill designates 50% of the BP settlement proceeds that would normally go to the State General Fund for three specific uses: $100 million to the State Insurance Department for insurance reform to help reduce residential and commercial property premiums (not for administrative costs), $200 million to ALDOT for Mobile County Southwest Division projects that improve coastal transportation and disaster evacuation routing, and $200 million to ALDOT for Baldwin County Southwest Division projects for the same purposes. The DOT Director, in consultation with the Southwest Division, would decide which projects to fund. The act would take effect on the first day of the month after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Residential and commercial property owners who pay insurance premiums, who could see premium reductions funded by the insurance reform measures.
• Residents, businesses, and travelers in Baldwin County and Mobile County who rely on coastal transportation and evacuation routes, who would benefit from enhanced road projects funded by ALDOT.

Key Provisions

• Half of the BP settlement proceeds designated for the State General Fund would be redistributed under this act.
• Funds are allocated as follows: $100,000,000 to the State Insurance Department for insurance reform (grants, loans, and other measures to reduce premiums; no administrative use).
• $200,000,000 to the Alabama Department of Transportation for Mobile County Southwest Division projects to enhance coastal transportation and evacuation routing (no administrative use).
• $200,000,000 to the Alabama Department of Transportation for Baldwin County Southwest Division projects to enhance coastal transportation and evacuation routing (no administrative use).
• The Director of Transportation and the Director of the Southwest Division determine the projects to fund.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the month following its passage and approval by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill