HB392 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Jones

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Mike BallRussell BedsoleChip BrownK.L. BrownTerri CollinsTracy EstesDavid FaulknerBob FincherDanny GarrettVictor GastonSteve HurstReed IngramGil IsbellWes KitchensNathaniel LedbetterCraig LipscombRhett MarquesMac McCutcheonArnold MooneyParker MooreBecky NordgrenPhillip PettusKerry RichBen RobbinsProncey RobertsonConnie C. RoweHoward SanderfordGinny ShaverMatt SimpsonVan SmithAndrew SorrellJeff SorrellsScott StadthagenDavid StandridgeShane StringerTim WadsworthRich WingoDebbie Wood

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Obligation Transparency, created, membership, compensation, powers, and duties, provided

Summary

HB392 creates a permanent Contract Review Legislative Oversight Committee and sets rules for reviewing large agency obligations, including meeting procedures and chair replacements.

What This Bill Does

It adds new review provisions for agreements that would commit more than $10 million of a direct General Fund appropriation, requiring submitting documents within 10 days of signing and a 30-day committee review (with possible public hearings). If the committee does not act within 30 days, the proposal is deemed approved; if at least two House members and two Senate members disapprove within 30 days, the obligation cannot take effect until the next regular session adjourns (45 days after submission). It also allows remote participation in meetings (counting as presence) and provides for replacement of a nonparticipating budget chair by the Speaker or President; the Department of Transportation is not subject to this review. The act takes effect immediately upon governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• State agencies or departments that receive direct General Fund appropriations and propose agreements or obligations exceeding $10 million in future expenditures; they must submit those agreements to the committee and cooperate with its review.
• Members of the Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee and related budget chairs (House Ways and Means and Senate Finance and Taxation); they will review, vote on, and possibly hold hearings on proposed obligations, with rules for attendance and chair substitution.

Key Provisions

• Adds sections 29-2-41.5 and 29-2-41.6 to establish oversight rules and meeting procedures for the Contract Review Permanent Legislative Oversight Committee.
• §29-2-41.5 allows the Speaker or President to appoint a House or Senate member to replace a nonparticipating budget committee chair, and allows remote participation in meetings to count as presence.
• §29-2-41.6 requires agencies with direct General Fund appropriations proposing obligations over $10 million to submit within 10 days; the committee must review within 30 days and may hold hearings; failure to act is deemed approval.
• Disapproval by at least two House and two Senate members within 30 days blocks the obligation from taking effect until the next regular session adjourns (45 days after submission).
• All agencies must cooperate and provide requested documents; the Department of Transportation is not subject to the review.
• Effective date is immediate upon the governor's signature.

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

Subjects

Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Obligation Transparency