SB57 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Hightower

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

SB57 would divert half of BP Deepwater Horizon settlement proceeds that would go to Alabama's General Fund to funding insurance reform and road/bridge projects in Baldwin and Mobile Counties.

What This Bill Does

Half of the BP settlement proceeds that would otherwise go to the State General Fund are redirected to three uses: $100 million to the State Insurance Department for insurance reform aimed at reducing residential and commercial premiums (not for administration), $200 million to ALDOT for Mobile County Southwest Division projects to improve coastal transportation and evacuation routing, and $200 million to ALDOT for Baldwin County Southwest Division projects for the same purposes. The Transportation Director, with the Southwest Division Director, would pick the specific ALDOT projects to fund. The act becomes law after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Residents and property owners in Baldwin County and Mobile County who would benefit from improved coastal transportation and evacuation routes funded by ALDOT projects.
• Homeowners and commercial property insured in Alabama who would benefit from insurance reform measures funded by the State Insurance Department aimed at reducing premiums.

Key Provisions

• Allocates $100,000,000 to the State Insurance Department for insurance reform, including grants, loans, and other measures to reduce residential and commercial insurance premiums; no funds may be used for administrative purposes.
• Allocates $200,000,000 to the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) for Mobile County in the Southwest Division for projects that enhance commercial transportation to coastal areas and improve evacuation routing for natural disasters; no funds may be used for administrative purposes.
• Allocates $200,000,000 to ALDOT for Baldwin County in the Southwest Division for projects that enhance commercial transportation to coastal areas and improve evacuation routing for natural disasters; no funds may be used for administrative purposes.
• The Director of the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Southwest Division, will determine which ALDOT projects to fund under this act.

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