SB143 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Paul Sanford

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

SB143 would allow municipalities in Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties (pop. 1,000+) to hold local option elections to decide whether alcohol can be sold and distributed within their city limits.

What This Bill Does

It removes the current exception that excludes Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties from the local option mechanism, letting their eligible municipalities use the same process to decide wet or dry status. If enacted, those municipalities would follow the existing petition and election process to decide if alcohol sales and distribution are legal inside the municipality, with the same ballot format, election timing, and consequences as other municipalities. The law would take effect on the first day of the third month after enactment.

Who It Affects

• Municipalities in Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties with a population of 1,000 or more, enabling them to hold local option elections on alcohol sales and distribution within their borders.
• Residents and voters in those municipalities who participate in the local option elections to determine whether their municipality becomes wet (allows sales/distribution) or remains dry.

Key Provisions

• Amends Sections 28-2A-1 and 28-2A-3 to remove the exclusion of Clay, Randolph, and Blount Counties, allowing municipalities with 1,000+ population in those counties to hold local option elections on the sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages.
• If a majority votes 'Yes,' the municipality becomes wet and alcohol sales/distribution are permitted within its limits; if 'No,' it remains dry until changed by another local option election.
• Maintains the existing local option election process (petition, ballot form, timing, notice, and funding rules) and sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after enactment.

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