SB137 Alabama 2015 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Del Marsh
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2015
Title: Lobbying, prohibiting certain public officials from serving as a lobbyist for a two-year period, Secs. 36-25-13, 36-25-23 am'd.
Summary: SB137 adds a two-year cooling-off period that bans former Alabama public officials and employees from lobbying the state bodies they served and tightens related lobbying rules.
What This Bill Does
Creates a two-year cooling-off prohibition: former public officials cannot lobby before boards, agencies, commissions, departments, or legislative bodies they were a part of for two years after leaving; for elected officials, the ban lasts two years after the term ends. Extends similar two-year bans to former public officials and public employees before the executive, legislative, or judicial branches and related government bodies, even if they left early. Prohibits former members of the Alabama House or Senate from receiving extended floor privileges when acting as lobbyists. Adds restrictions on lobbying activities, including prohibiting lobbyists from receiving gifts (beyond campaign contributions) and from being paid contingent on the outcome of legislation, with narrow exceptions for lawyers in non-lobbying judicial work.

Who It Affects
Former public officials and former public employees would face a two-year lobbying ban after leaving their positions, with the timing depending on whether they are elected or appointed, and with an exception for judiciary attorneys acting in non-lobbying roles.
Former members of the Alabama House of Representatives or Senate would not receive extended floor privileges if they lobby.

Key Provisions
Two-year prohibition for former public officials from serving as a lobbyist before boards, agencies, commissions, departments, or legislative bodies they were a member of, starting after they leave; for former elected officials, two years after the term ends; exception for judges or lawyers representing clients in non-lobbying capacity.
Two-year prohibition for public officials elected to a term from lobbying before the executive, legislative, or judicial branches or any board, agency, or department they previously served, for the remainder of the term and two years after the term; exception for judiciary lawyers in non-lobbying capacity.
No former public official or public employee shall lobby for a fee before any board, agency, commission, department, or legislative body they were a member or employee of for two years after leaving that role.
No public official or public employee shall contract with the government agency they were part of for two years after leaving.
No public official or public employee who directly participates in the regulation, audit, or investigation of a private business shall solicit or accept employment with that business within two years of departure.
No former public official or public employee may act as attorney for a person other than the state in matters where the state is a party or has a direct and substantial interest for two years after leaving office or employment (with exceptions for non-lobbying capacity).
No gifts or other things of value may be solicited from lobbyists for purposes other than campaign contributions, and no compensation for lobbying services may be contingent on the passage or defeat of legislation.

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