HB177 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rex ReynoldsRepresentative

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Matt SimpsonAndy Whitt

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Municipalities, authorized to use electronic records and signatures in the conduct of its affairs, Secs. 8-1A-17, 8-1A-18 am'd.

Summary

HB177 lets Alabama municipalities use electronic records and signatures and sets up rules for state agencies to accept them.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes municipalities to decide by ordinance whether their agencies should create and retain electronic records and convert paper records to digital form, and to send and receive electronic records and signatures. It also allows the Alabama Office of Information Technology to issue rules guiding how electronic records are created, stored, signed, and preserved, and how electronic signatures are accepted by agencies under its control. The rules are permissive and do not repeal existing agency rules. The act becomes effective immediately after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Municipal governments and their departments: gain authority to determine, by ordinance, how they create, retain, convert, and manage electronic records and signatures.
• The Alabama Office of Information Technology and other state agencies under its purview: gain authority to issue rules and standards for electronic records and signatures, and to set procedures and formats for implementation.

Key Provisions

• Amends sections 8-1A-17, 8-1A-18, and 8-1A-19 to authorize municipalities to use electronic records and signatures and to decide by ordinance how municipal agencies handle them.
• Authorizes the Office of Information Technology, by rule, to provide procedures for creating and retaining electronic records, converting written records, and accepting electronic signatures for agencies under its purview.
• Rules are permissive and may not repeal or alter existing agency rules; standards may allow different levels where appropriate to fit applications.
• Effective immediately following passage and the Governor's approval.

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

Subjects

Municipalities