HB73 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jimmy Martin
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Alcoholic beverages, municipal option elections authorized in municipalities of 500 or more, procedures for petition and referendum, Secs. 28-2A-1, 28-2A-3 am'd.
Summary: HB73 allows municipalities in Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties to hold municipal option elections to decide alcohol sales, removing their previous exclusion.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Sections 28-2A-1 and 28-2A-3 to remove the exclusion of Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties from being able to change a municipality's dry/wet status by municipal option election. It retains the existing process for these elections, including petition requirements, ballot language, notice, and the method for conducting the election. If a majority votes yes, the municipality becomes wet and must follow applicable alcohol laws; if no, it remains dry. The election must be funded by the municipality, with a minimum waiting period of 720 days between such elections, and the act takes effect immediately upon passage.

Who It Affects
Residents who are qualified voters in eligible municipalities within Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties; they will have the right to vote in municipal option elections on wet/dry status.
Municipal governments and local officials in those municipalities; they must administer the petition process, conduct the election, and implement the outcome if the vote passes or fails.

Key Provisions
Removes the exclusion for Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties, allowing their municipalities to change dry/wet status through a municipal option election.
Keeps the petition requirement (30 percent of voters from the last general election) and the process for triggering a municipal option election, including ballot language and notice requirements.
If the majority votes Yes, the municipality becomes wet and must follow state alcohol laws within its borders; if No, it remains or becomes dry until changed again.
Election costs are paid by the municipality's general fund; elections must be held at specified times with at least 720 days between municipal option elections; the act takes effect immediately after passage.

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