HB518 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Presidential executive orders, authorize review of by the Attorney General to determine constitutionality, prohibits implementation of certain presidential executive orders

Summary

This bill would create a state review process for presidential executive orders and block state agencies from implementing those deemed unconstitutional in several areas.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the Legislative Council to review a presidential executive order that has not been approved by Congress and to recommend to the Attorney General and Governor that the order be examined for constitutionality. The Attorney General would determine whether the order is constitutional and whether the state should declare it unconstitutional. If the AG finds an order unconstitutional in the specified areas, state agencies, local governments, and their officials and employees would be prohibited from implementing it. The act would take effect three months after passage and the Governor's approval.

Who It Affects

• State agencies and political subdivisions and their officials and employees would be barred from implementing presidential executive orders that restrict rights or are deemed unconstitutional in the listed areas.
• The Legislative Council, the Attorney General, and the Governor would have new roles to review, evaluate constitutionality, and decide on actions regarding presidential executive orders.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Legislative Council to review a presidential executive order that has not been affirmed by Congress and signed into law, and to recommend to the Attorney General and Governor that the order be examined for constitutionality.
• Authorizes the Attorney General to determine constitutionality and whether the state should declare the order unconstitutional, potentially limiting its implementation.
• Prohibits state agencies, political subdivisions, and their officials and employees from implementing an unconstitutional executive order that relates to epidemics, regulation of natural resources, regulation of the agricultural industry, regulation of land use, regulation of the financial sector through environmental, social, or governance standards, or regulation of the right to keep and bear arms.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month following its passage and 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

Presidential Executive Orders