HB197 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Legislature, new biennial legislative sessions to consider bills making appropriations, established, const. amend.

Summary

HB197 would amend Alabama’s constitution to have annual regular sessions for non-budget bills and annual fiscal sessions for two-year budget appropriations, moving to a biennial budgeting system and repealing older constitutional amendments.

What This Bill Does

It creates a two-part legislative year: a shorter regular session each year to handle non-budget matters, and a separate fiscal session after the regular session to consider basic appropriations for the next two fiscal years. The basic appropriations would be itemized for each year and the state would maintain budgeting on a fiscal-year basis. It requires the governor to send a two-year budget proposal before each fiscal session and limits what can be considered during each session. It also repeals previous amendments and sets limits on session length and salary changes tied to basic appropriations.

Who It Affects

• Legislators and legislative leadership — new session schedules, topic limits (non-budget vs. budget), and the need to pass basic appropriations during fiscal sessions.
• Governor — must transmit a proposed two-year budget before each fiscal session and plays a key role in budget consideration.
• State employees and public officers — salary increases are prohibited within basic appropriations bills; salary levels must be prescribed by law for any increases.
• State agencies and education sector — budgets would cover two fiscal years (biennial period) and Education Trust Fund spending would be dedicated to educational purposes.
• Voters in Alabama — would vote on a constitutional amendment to implement these changes.

Key Provisions

• Regular sessions held annually for non-budgetary matters, limited to 20 legislative days and 70 calendar days.
• Fiscal sessions held annually after regular sessions, beginning the fourth Tuesday in April, limited to 12 legislative days and 30 calendar days, and restricted to basic appropriations for the next two fiscal years or amendments to them.
• Basic appropriations must be itemized and totaled for each fiscal year of the biennial budget; accounting remains on a fiscal-year basis.
• Special sessions are limited to 12 legislative days and 30 calendar days.
• No officer or employee salary may be increased in basic appropriations; other appropriations must be in separate, single-subject bills.
• Basic appropriations cover ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, public debt service, and education; education appropriations from the Education Trust Fund are for educational purposes only.
• Governor must transmit a proposed budget before the first fiscal session; it is the legislature’s duty to pass basic appropriations for the two-year budget period.
• Amendments 339 and 448 are repealed by this act.

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