HB157 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

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

Summary

HB157 would create the Alabama Court Cost Commission to review court costs and require legislative proposals for new or changed costs to go through this commission.

What This Bill Does

It would establish a multi-member Alabama Court Cost Commission including lawmakers, judges, court officials, and a bar member. The commission would review all existing court costs to ensure they are reasonably related to the courts and to the costs of adjudicating cases, and it would recommend whether those costs should be amended, repealed, or left unchanged. It would also prevent introducing new or modifying court costs unless the proposal is first submitted to the commission for review and reported to the Legislature.

Who It Affects

• Alabama taxpayers and court users who pay court costs, who could see changes in the amount or distribution of court costs as recommended by the Commission.
• Lawmakers, judges, and other court system professionals involved in creating or approving court costs, who would serve on the Commission and participate in reviews and recommendations.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Court Cost Commission with defined membership (legislative members, Chief Justice or appointee, Administrative Office of Courts representative, and judges, clerks, district attorneys, and a State Bar member).
• Requires the Commission to review all existing laws imposing or allocating court costs to ensure costs are reasonably related to the court system and to the costs of adjudicating the matter, including courthouse operations, security, law enforcement, or incarceration.
• The Commission must provide recommendations to the Legislature on whether such laws should be amended, repealed, or left unchanged.
• No new court costs or amendments to existing costs may be introduced unless submitted in writing to the Commission (and to certain legislative clerks) at least 30 days before the session, and the Commission must review and report findings to the Legislature during the session.
• Defines 'court cost' to exclude probate court costs, restitution ordered by courts, and punitive fines.

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