HB128 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Reapportionment, redistricting or reapportionment plan, Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment to intervene in any legal action that contests the validity of, Sec. 29-1-2.5 am'd.

Summary

HB128 lets Alabama's Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment intervene in lawsuits challenging redistricting or reapportionment plans and seek federal court involvement, while keeping cases in Montgomery County Circuit Court and moving older cases there.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment to intervene in any legal action that contests redistricting or reapportionment plans for the state Senate, the House, the U.S. Congress, the State Board of Education, or other statewide plans, and it states the Legislature’s intent to seek intervention in federal court when appropriate. It also maintains that these actions must be filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County and requires that any cases filed in other courts before July 3, 2001 be transferred to or refiled in Montgomery County.

Who It Affects

• Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment: gains the right to intervene in relevant lawsuits.
• Plaintiffs and defendants in redistricting/reapportionment lawsuits (e.g., state legislators, the State Board of Education, and other parties challenging plans): potential involvement of the committee as an intervening party.
• Montgomery County Circuit Court: becomes the designated venue for these actions and for transfers of applicable cases.
• Courts with ongoing cases prior to July 3, 2001: required to transfer or refile those cases in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment to intervene in any legal action contesting the validity of a redistricting or reapportionment plan (or portions of a plan).
• Expresses the Legislature's intent that the committee seek intervention in federal court as appropriate to protect its interests in developing and adopting redistricting plans.
• Specifies that such actions must be commenced in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County.
• Requires any legal action pending in courts other than Montgomery County Circuit Court on July 3, 2001, contesting these plans to be transferred to or refiled in Montgomery County Circuit Court.

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

Subjects

Reapportionment