HB403 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Poole

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Courts, Alabama Court Cost Commission, established, const. amend.

Summary

HB403 would amend the Alabama Constitution to create the Alabama Court Cost Commission to review court costs and guide changes before they can be created or changed.

What This Bill Does

It creates a commission with specified members from the judiciary, administrative offices, and the legal community. The commission must review all existing court costs to determine if they are reasonably related to the court system and the expenses of handling cases, and it must recommend to the Legislature whether those costs or their distribution should be amended, repealed, or left unchanged. It also bars introducing new or modified court costs unless the proposal is reviewed by the commission, and it sets deadlines and reporting requirements for legislative consideration and recommendations.

Who It Affects

• State government and the court system (courts, clerks, judges, and related offices) through new oversight and potential guidance on the level and use of court costs.
• People who pay court costs and the legal community (including lawyers and bar members) because changes to court costs could affect fees, and because they participate in or are represented on the commission.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Court Cost Commission and specifies its diverse membership (lawmakers, judges at multiple levels, the Administrative Office of Courts, a circuit clerk, and a member of the Alabama State Bar).
• Requires the Commission to review all existing laws imposing court costs to ensure costs relate to the court system and to expenses of adjudication, and to recommend amendments, repeals, or no change.
• Prohibits introducing legislation to create or modify a court cost unless the proposal is submitted to the Commission for review and the Commission provides a recommendation.
• Defines 'court cost' (excluding probate costs, restitution, and punitive fines) and outlines commission duties, meeting procedures, compensation, and administrative support.
• Requires the Commission to file its findings and recommendations with legislative leaders by specified deadlines.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments