SB275 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rodger SmithermanSenator

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Constitution, Legislature authorized to recompile constitution and submit at 2022 Reg. Sess., and provide for its ratification, const. amend.

Summary

This bill would let the Legislature recompile the Alabama Constitution in 2022, remove racist language and duplications, reorganize provisions, and have voters ratify the new version.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Legislature, upon recommendation from the Director of the Legislative Services Agency, to reassemble the constitution into labeled articles and sections, remove racist language, delete duplicates and repealed provisions, and consolidate economic development provisions, plus organize local amendments by county during the 2022 Regular Session. The draft must be approved by a three-fifths vote in both chambers via a joint resolution and then submitted to voters for ratification under existing constitutional procedures. If voters approve, the recompiled Constitution becomes the state's supreme law.

Who It Affects

• Alabama voters who will decide in a referendum whether to ratify the recompiled constitution
• Legislature and the Director of the Legislative Services Agency who would draft, arrange, and seek approval for the recompiled constitution
• Local county residents and governments, whose local amendments would be organized by county in the recompiled document

Key Provisions

• The Legislature may recompile the Alabama Constitution during the 2022 Regular Session, removing racist language, deleting duplicative and repealed provisions, and consolidating economic development provisions; local amendments would be arranged by county
• The draft must be approved by a three-fifths vote of both House of the Legislature and then submitted to voters by joint resolution under Amendment 714 / Section 286.01
• An election to ratify the proposed amendment will be held under existing election laws and procedures, with standard ballot language and process
• If voters approve the recompiled constitution, it would become the supreme law of Alabama

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