HB561 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Legislature, term limits, limit to five full terms plus two years of extra service filling a vacancy in each house provided, const. amend.

Summary

HB 561 would amend Alabama's Constitution to cap legislative service at five full terms plus up to two years filling vacancies (22 years total), with a grandfather provision for pre-2020 service.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, no one may serve more than five full terms in either chamber starting with the 2022 general election. After reaching five terms, a legislator can still serve up to two additional years to fill a vacancy. The limit applies to both the Senate and the House. Additionally, service in the Senate or House before November 2020 would not disqualify a person from serving in that chamber after that date.

Who It Affects

• Current and future Alabama legislators (in both the Senate and the House) would be limited to a maximum of 22 years of legislative service (five full terms plus up to two years for vacancies).
• People considering running for the Alabama Legislature (candidates) would be subject to the same term-limit cap once it takes effect.
• Members who had served in the Senate or House before November 2020 would have a grandfather protection, meaning their pre-2020 service would not disqualify them from serving after that date.

Key Provisions

• Limits legislators to a maximum of five full terms in the Legislature, plus up to two years to fill an unexpired term due to a vacancy, for a total of not more than 22 years of service.
• Effective commencing with the general election in November 2022, applying to both the Senate and the House.
• Notwithstanding the limit, service in the Senate before November 2020 shall not disqualify, in whole or in part, an individual from service in the Senate following that date, and service in the House before November 2020 shall not disqualify, in whole or in part, an individual from service in the House following that date.
• The proposed amendment would become valid only if approved by a majority of the qualified electors voting on it.

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