SB38 Alabama 2015 2nd Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Second Special Session 2015

Title

Public funds, colleges and universities, local boards of education prohibited from using to advocate for or against ballot measures, candidates prohibited from using for advertisement or public service announcements, Sec. 36-25-5.3 added

Summary

SB38 would bar public colleges, universities, local boards of education, and public schools from using public funds or property to advocate for or against ballot measures and would restrict campaign ads by public officials or employees 90 days before elections (with emergency exceptions).

What This Bill Does

It prohibits public institutions from spending public funds, contributing public funds, or using public property to advocate for or against statewide or local ballot measures. It also adds a new rule that a public official or public employee who is a candidate cannot use public funds for advertisements or PSAs containing their picture or voice within 90 days before an election where they have an opponent, with an emergency exception allowing such use if reasonably necessary for official functions.

Who It Affects

• Public colleges and universities in Alabama: cannot spend or allocate public funds or use public property to advocate for/against ballot measures.
• Local boards of education and the schools under them: same restrictions as above.
• Public officials or public employees who run for office: cannot use public funds for ads or PSAs containing their picture or voice within 90 days of an election in which they have an opponent (emergency exceptions apply).

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Prohibits public institutions (colleges, universities, and local boards of education/schools) from expending public funds, contributing public funds to entities, or using public property to advocate for or against statewide or local ballot measures.
• Section 2: Adds Section 36-25-5.3 prohibiting a public official or public employee candidate from using public funds for ads or public service announcements in newspapers, radio, or television that show their picture or voice 90 days before an election in which they have an opponent; emergency exception allowed if necessary to official functions.
• Section 3: Establishes the act's effective date—becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval (or when it becomes law otherwise).

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

Subjects

Public Funds