HB126 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jimmy Martin

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Alcoholic Beverages, municipal option elections allowed in all municipalities with a population over 1,000, Secs. 28-2A-1, 28-2A-3 am'd.

Summary

The bill lowers the population threshold to 500 for municipalities to hold local votes on alcohol sales and removes county exclusions, allowing more cities to decide wet or dry status by local option election.

What This Bill Does

It lets any Alabama municipality with 500 or more people (including those in Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties) vote on whether alcoholic beverages can be sold and distributed within its limits. It removes previous exclusions for certain counties, enabling them to hold such elections as well. If a majority votes yes, the municipality becomes wet and follows state wet‑county rules; if no, it remains dry until changed by another local option election or county action.

Who It Affects

• Municipalities in Alabama with a population of 500 or more (previously 1,000 or more) by local option election to determine wet/dry status.
• Voters within those municipalities who would cast ballots on whether alcohol sales should be legal inside their town or city.

Key Provisions

• Population threshold lowered from 1,000 to 500 for municipalities to change from dry to wet or wet to dry by municipal option election, removing the previous exclusion of Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties.
• Excludes a mandatory process: a petition from 30 percent of the municipality's last general election voters triggers a municipal option election with specific ballot language and notice requirements; the election cost is paid from the municipality's general fund.
• Election timing rules: the option election can be held with other elections, must have at least 720 days between municipal option elections, and the county or municipal governing body determines timing.
• If the majority votes 'Yes' in a municipal option election, the municipality becomes wet and existing wet-state laws apply within its limits; if 'No', the municipality remains dry until changed by future action.

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

Subjects

Alcoholic Beverages