HB25 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Transportation Commission, established, five members appt from five regions of dept, duties, compensation, appointment of Transportation Department director, department not subject to Budget Management Act, Secs. 23-1-21, 23-1-21.2 am'd.

Summary

HB25 creates a five-member State Transportation Commission to oversee the DOT, shifts the DOT Director’s appointment to the Commission, and exempts the department from the Budget Management Act.

What This Bill Does

Establishes a five-member commission, with one member from each DOT region, appointed by the Governor and required to reflect state diversity. The commission would appoint the Director of Transportation and could delegate duties to the Director, while the commission would otherwise assume all DOT duties unless it delegates them. The department would be exempt from the Budget Management Act, and funding decisions could not be withheld or redirected contrary to the commission's five-year and annual plans. It also imposes ethics and conflict-of-interest rules for commissioners, including a prohibition on certain post-service employment or contracting with DOT contractors for two years.

Who It Affects

• State Transportation Commission members: appointed by the Governor from five DOT regions; serve part-time; compensated; must reflect diversity; subject to ethics laws; cannot hold other offices during tenure; face post-service contracting restrictions for related DOT contractors.
• Director of Transportation and DOT staff/operations: appointed by the Commission (not directly by the Governor); serves at the Governor's pleasure; must bond; conducts DOT administration and reports; performs duties delegated by the Commission; sign contracts and manage programs.
• DOT contractors and businesses that work with the department: subject to post-service restrictions; if a former commissioner moves to work with a related contractor, that contractor faces a two-year ban from DOT contracting after the commissioner’s term.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the State Transportation Commission with five regional members appointed by the Governor; regional regions defined and terms set (initial terms of 2, 4, and 6 years; six-year terms thereafter; no consecutive terms; diversity requirements; vacancy filled within 30 days).
• Commission governs and coordinates DOT, elects a chair, and requires a three-member quorum; members serve part-time and are subject to ethics laws; compensation set at 25% of the Governor's cabinet pay; bond required; regional offices maintained.
• Commission would appoint the Director of Transportation and have the authority to assume all DOT duties unless delegated; the Director would be bonded and serve at the Governor's pleasure; no person who served on the Commission within the prior two years may be chosen as director.
• Section 23-1-21 updates: the Director is appointed by the State Transportation Commission and reports to it; Director duties include administering DOT policies, supervising the department, organizing offices, coordinating activities, preparing annual reports, and signing contracts in the state’s name.
• Section 23-1-21.2 updates: the Director (alone or with local entities) can enter into agreements for public transportation, accept federal funds, coordinate planning with local entities, administer state transportation funds, and develop necessary regulations; broader delegation of authority to administer programs and funds.
• Section 5 ensures, notwithstanding the Budget Management Act, that neither the Governor nor the Finance Director can withhold or redirect funds contrary to the Commission's five-year plan or annual expenditure plan.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the Governor’s next term after passage.

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

Subjects

Transportation Department