HB60 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Adline ClarkeRepresentative
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Local bills, advertisement or posting prior to introduction, procedures, amendment further provided for, introduction limited, Sec. 106 (Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901) am'd., const. amend.
Summary: HB60 would require four weeks of newspaper notice before introduction of private, special, or local bills and establish new amendment procedures for those bills in Alabama's Constitution.
What This Bill Does
It amends Section 106 to require the substance of private/local bills to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county for four consecutive weeks before introduction, with an alternative notice method if there is no newspaper. It sets procedures for amending such bills during the legislative process, including who may amend, how amendments must relate to the bill’s subject, and a 48-hour delay before final passage (with some day-based exceptions). It requires public access to amendment texts and attaches notice proofs to the bill and public records. It also makes noncompliant local laws void, treats the amendment as self-executing, and requires voter approval in a statewide election to ratify the constitutional change.

Who It Affects
Residents of counties affected by private, local, or special bills, who would receive four weeks of notice in the newspaper (or alternative notice if no newspaper exists) about proposed laws that could affect them.
Legislators and legislative staff, who would have to follow the new notice requirements, amendment rules, and delay periods when handling private, local, or special bills.

Key Provisions
Notice: substance of private/local bills must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county for four consecutive weeks before introduction; if no newspaper exists, notice must be posted in five places in the county (including the courthouse) and by electronic/other media.
Amendment procedures: amendments to private/local bills must be offered by a legislator whose district is affected, must relate to the bill’s subject, may not alter core features, and follow a process including a 48-hour delay before final passage (with certain day-based exceptions).
Public access and records: the Legislature must provide electronic/public access to amendment text, and notice/proofs must be attached to the bill and filed as a public record.
Enforcement and self-execution: courts would void any private/local law not enacted in accordance with these provisions; the amendment is self-executing and requires no enabling legislation.
Election to ratify: the proposed constitutional amendment must be approved by voters in a statewide election.

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