SB29 Alabama 2015 2nd Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Hightower

Republican

Session

Second 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

SB29 would redirect half of BP Deepwater Horizon settlement funds that would go to the State General Fund to insurance reform and road/bridge projects in Baldwin and Mobile Counties.

What This Bill Does

The bill overrides existing law to redistribute one half of the BP settlement proceeds designated for the State General Fund. It directs $100,000,000 to the State Insurance Department for insurance reform (grants, loans, and other measures to reduce premiums, not for admin costs) and $200,000,000 to ALDOT for Mobile County and $200,000,000 to ALDOT for Baldwin County for projects that boost coastal transportation and improve evacuation routes for natural disasters, with no administrative use of these funds. The DOT Director, in consultation with the Southwest Division Director, will determine which projects receive funding. The act becomes effective on the first day of the month after passage and the Governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• State Insurance Department – receives $100 million for insurance reform efforts aimed at reducing residential and commercial insurance premiums.
• Alabama Department of Transportation (Mobile County Southwest Division) – receives $200 million for projects to improve coastal transportation and evacuation routing.
• Alabama Department of Transportation (Baldwin County Southwest Division) – receives $200 million for projects to improve coastal transportation and evacuation routing.
• Residents and property owners in Baldwin and Mobile Counties (and coastal communities) – potential benefits from improved transportation infrastructure and enhanced disaster evacuation routes; may see insurance premium reductions due to reforms.

Key Provisions

• Notwithstanding any other law, 50% of BP settlement proceeds designated for the State General Fund must be distributed as follows: $100,000,000 to the State Insurance Department for insurance reform (no admin costs), $200,000,000 to ALDOT for Mobile County Southwest Division projects, and $200,000,000 to ALDOT for Baldwin County Southwest Division projects (no admin costs).
• ALDOT project funding in Mobile and Baldwin Counties must focus on improving coastal transportation and evacuation routing for natural disasters.
• The Director of the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Director of the Southwest Division, will determine which projects are funded.
• 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