HB420 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Constitution, Legislature authorized to recompile constitution and submit at 2022 Reg. Sess., and provide for its ratification, const. amend.

Summary

This bill would propose an amendment to let the Legislature reorganize the Alabama Constitution in 2022 and have voters ratify the revised version.

What This Bill Does

If approved, the Legislature could arrange the Constitution into clear articles, parts, and sections, omitting parts that are not in force and making no other changes to the language or provisions. The draft arrangement would need a three-fifths vote in both the Senate and House via a joint resolution before being put to voters for ratification under the existing amendment process. If voters approve, the revised constitution would become the supreme law of Alabama.

Who It Affects

• Alabama voters: would vote in the proposed election to ratify the recompiled constitution.
• The Alabama Legislature (both chambers) and state election officials: would have the authority and responsibility to recompile the constitution during the 2022 Regular Session and to oversee the submission and election process.

Key Provisions

• The Legislature may arrange the constitution, as amended, into proper articles, parts, and sections, omitting non‑in-force provisions and making no other changes in language or provisions during the 2022 Regular Session.
• The draft arrangement must be approved by a three-fifths vote of each house of the Legislature via joint resolution and then submitted to voters under the state’s amendment process (Amendment 714 / Section 286.01).
• If voters approve the amendment, the Constitution, with the amendments, becomes the supreme law of Alabama.
• An election to ratify the proposed amendment will be held in accordance with existing sections of the Constitution and state election laws, with ballot language describing the proposed change.

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