HB80 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Permanent Joint Transportation Committee, technical corrections regarding Dept. of Transporation's long-range plan, long-range plan clarified, clarification of the Alabama Dept.of Transportation's duties and information requirements to the committee relating to the long-range plan, Sections 29-2-1, 29-2-2, 29-2-3, 29-2-4, 29-2-6, and 29-2-8 am'd.

Summary

This bill updates Alabama's Permanent Joint Transportation Committee to strengthen oversight of the Department of Transportation's long-range plan and budgets, with clearer rules and transparency.

What This Bill Does

It updates several code sections to clarify the committee's duties related to ALDOT's long-range plan and STIP. It defines the committee's structure, meeting rules, and decision process, and requires ALDOT to provide data, budgets, and project narratives and to keep the plan current on the website. It also authorizes hearings, outside consultants, and annual reporting, and requires that all highway bills be reviewed by the committee.

Who It Affects

• ALDOT (Alabama Department of Transportation) must develop, update, and share its long-range plan and related budgets and data with the Joint Transportation Committee, and keep the plan current on the website.
• The Joint Transportation Committee and the Legislature (Senate and House) gain explicit oversight authority over ALDOT's long-range plan, budgets, amendments, and public reporting, with duties to review, concur, report, and publicly share information.

Key Provisions

• Technical corrections to clarify duties and information requirements related to the ALDOT long-range plan and STIP (Sections 29-2-1, 29-2-2, 29-2-3, 29-2-4, 29-2-6, 29-2-8).
• Creates and defines the Permanent Joint Transportation Committee with members from both chambers and geographic balance; residency requirements by congressional district.
• Sets meeting rules, including quarterly meetings, chair/vice-chair rotation, special meetings, quorum, and decision rules; if no quorum, ALDOT recommendations may be deemed approved.
• Requires the committee to review and concur in ALDOT's long-range plan and five-year STIP, consider amendments that are fiscally constrained, and keep plans publicly available.
• Requires ALDOT to provide the committee with updated STIP, budgets, and narrative project descriptions; update the ALDOT website within seven days of amendments and notify the committee chair; provide copies on request.
• Gives the committee authority to hold public hearings, hire outside consultants, examine long-range needs, and file reports with the Governor and Legislature; requires consideration of multiple factors (safety, growth, ecology, commuter savings, etc.).
• Mandates ALDOT cooperation: maintain STIP per FHWA rules, provide books and records, and report quarterly on performance and proposed projects.
• All highway-related bills must be referred to the Joint Transportation Committee for recommendations and approval; committees should consider JTC input in action on related legislation.
• Effective date: immediate after passage and Governor approval.

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