SB88 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald O. Dial
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Lieutenant Governor, duties and powers over Senate, removed, salary established, const. amend.
Summary: The bill would remove the Lieutenant Governor from presiding over the Senate and voting on ties, transfer those duties to a Senate elected President, and designate the Lieutenant Governor mainly as the Governor successor with a salary of 75% of the Governor's.
What This Bill Does
It would amend the Constitution to remove the Lieutenant Governor's role as President of the Senate and as a tie-breaker in voting. The Senate would elect a President and a President Pro Tempore from its members to lead and preside over its meetings. The Lieutenant Governor's sole duty would be to succeed to the Governor's office under existing rules, while most legislative duties would be held by the Senate President. The Lieutenant Governor's pay would be set at 75% of the Governor's pay.

Who It Affects
Lieutenant Governor: loses authority to preside over the Senate or vote in ties; salary adjusted to 75% of the Governor's and role limited to gubernatorial succession.
Senate members and the legislative process: must elect a President and President Pro Tempore from among themselves to lead; the Senate President would hold the legislative duties formerly held by the Lieutenant Governor.

Key Provisions
Remove the Lieutenant Governor's duties to preside over the Senate and to vote on ties; vest those duties in the Senate's President.
Require the Senate to elect from its members a President and a President Pro Tempore to preside over its deliberations.
Make the Lieutenant Governor's sole duty to succeed to the Governor's office under existing conditions; vest these duties and powers with the President of the Senate.
Set the Lieutenant Governor's annual salary at 75% of the Governor's salary.
Repeal Amendment 57 and amend Sections 51, 117, 118, 127, and 129 of the Alabama Constitution to implement these changes, including provisions about where and how sessions are organized.

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