HB295 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Legislature, implementation of biennial budget periods, statutory meeting dates revised, contingent upon const. amend., Sec. 29-4-1 am'd.

Summary

HB 295 would implement biennial budgeting by changing legislative meeting dates and creating a dedicated fiscal session, contingent on a statewide constitutional amendment.

What This Bill Does

It amends the law to set new dates for organizational, general, and fiscal sessions and limits their lengths; it creates a dedicated fiscal session in April (starting in 2020) to handle revenue and appropriation bills only; it establishes biennial budgeting for all state budgets; it requires updating the Code to reflect the new dates and repeals conflicting provisions; and it makes these changes contingent on approval of a constitutional amendment by statewide referendum.

Who It Affects

• Legislature members and staff who will follow new dates and session lengths
• State agencies and budget planners who would operate on two-year budgets and participate in the April fiscal session
• Voters statewide who would approve the constitutional amendment in a referendum

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 29-4-1 to set new legislative meeting dates and convert to a biennial budgeting cycle, including a fiscal session in April for revenue/appropriation work
• Provides that annual general sessions have reduced duration (from existing limits) and introduces a separate fiscal session starting in 2020
• Requires the Code Commissioner to update legal references to reflect the new dates and repeal conflicting provisions
• Allows the changes to take effect only if the corresponding constitutional amendment is approved in a statewide referendum and governor approves

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

Subjects

Legislature