SB53 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

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

A constitutional amendment would require four weeks of newspaper notice before introducing special, private, or local bills and establish new advertising and amendment procedures for those bills.

What This Bill Does

It requires notice of the intention to introduce any special, private, or local bill to be published in a county newspaper for four consecutive weeks before introduction, or posted in five places in the county if there is no newspaper. It also creates procedures for amending such bills during the legislative process, including limits on changing the advertised subject and a delay before final passage. The notice and proof of notice must be attached to the bill and filed as a public record, and there must be public electronic access to amendments and related texts. The amendment would be submitted to voters in a statewide election for approval.

Who It Affects

• Residents living in Alabama counties that would be affected by special, private, or local bills, who would receive four-week newspaper or posted/electronic notice before such bills are introduced.
• Legislators, county governments, and bill sponsors who must follow the new notice and amendment procedures, attach proof of notice to the bill, and ensure public access to amendments.

Key Provisions

• Notice requirement: substance of the proposed local bill must be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the affected county for four consecutive weeks prior to introduction; if there is no newspaper, notice must be posted in five places in the county (including the county courthouse) and published electronically as allowed by law.
• Amendment procedures: amendments to local bills may be offered only by a legislator from the affected district; amendments must relate to the subject in the bill's title and may not drastically change advertised features until following the specified process; the origin house must approve the amendment and there is a delay before final passage.
• Transmission delay: after adopting an amendment, the bill cannot be finally passed in the origin house until the next meeting after a 48-hour delay (with exceptions on the 30th day or adjournment sine die); similar delay applies when the other house receives an amended version from the origin house.
• Public access and record-keeping: the Legislature must provide public access to text of amendments and reports; proof of notice and the notice itself must be attached to the bill and filed in the state archives as a public record.
• Validity and implementation: the amendment is self-executing; courts must void any local law not passed in accordance with these notice provisions; the change would require voter approval 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