HB431 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Merika ColemanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Elections, Legislative office, costs and expenses incurred for filling vacancies, Section 46 (Section 46, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended) am'd., const. amend.

Summary

HB431 would amend the Alabama Constitution to require the departing incumbent to pay the costs of filling a vacancy in a legislative seat, instead of using state funds, except when the departure is due to illness, death, or election or appointment to another public office.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill shifts the responsibility for the costs of a special election to fill a legislative vacancy from the state treasury to the departing incumbent who leaves for reasons other than illness, death, or moving to another public office. The change applies to elections held to fill vacancies and would replace the current practice of using unallocated state funds for these costs. The amendment would still follow existing rules about when an election is held or not (such as unopposed candidates). A constitutional amendment would be required for this change to take effect if approved by voters.

Who It Affects

• Departing legislators who leave office for reasons other than illness, death, or election/appointment to another public office would be responsible for paying the costs and expenses of the election to fill their vacancy.
• State government and taxpayers would see the costs for these elections shift away from the state treasury to the departing incumbents when the specified conditions apply.

Key Provisions

• The proposed amendment to Section 46 would require departing incumbents (leaving for reasons other than illness, death, or election/appointment to another public office) to pay the costs and expenses of the election to fill the vacancy.
• If an election is held to fill the vacancy, those costs would be paid by the departing incumbent rather than from state funds; the existing provisions regarding unopposed candidates and related procedures would continue to apply as described.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments