SB292 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Hightower

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

General appropriations bill to include expenses for public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education, const. amend.

Summary

The bill would let Alabama's general budget bill fund public postsecondary and higher education and end dedicated tax revenues for special purposes.

What This Bill Does

It would amend Section 71 of the Alabama Constitution to allow the general appropriation bill to include funding for the ordinary expenses of public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education. It would terminate any existing dedication of taxes and revenues for special purposes and move those funds to the State General Fund, effective October 1, 2019. It would also restrict salary increases to amounts already provided by law and require all other appropriations to be made in separate, single-subject bills. Finally, it requires a statewide election to approve the amendment.

Who It Affects

• Public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education would have their ordinary expenses funded through the general appropriation bill instead of separate appropriations.
• Taxpayers and state finances would be affected because dedicated taxes and revenues for special purposes would be terminated and redirected to the State General Fund, potentially changing how funds are allocated.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 71 to include appropriations for public postsecondary education and public institutions of higher education in the general appropriation bill.
• Terminates any existing dedication of taxes and revenues for special purposes at ratification and redirects those funds to the State General Fund (effective Oct. 1, 2019).
• Keeps salary increases out of the general appropriation bill unless already provided for by law; all other appropriations must be in separate, single-subject bills.
• Requires a statewide election to approve the constitutional amendment.

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