HB74 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Elections, prohibits the solicitation, receipt, or use of private funds to administer an election, with exceptions

Summary

HB74 would bar public officials and public employees in Alabama from soliciting or using private funds to administer elections, with limited official-approved exceptions.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits public officials and public employees from soliciting, receiving, accepting, or expending private gifts, donations, in-kind contributions, or funding to administer any election from private sources not provided through ordinary appropriations. Private funding can only be used if approved under the bill’s exception rules: a joint resolution if the Legislature is in session, or approval by the Governor, State Comptroller, Secretary of State, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House if the Legislature is not in session. Public officials and public employees are defined by existing Alabama law and are the groups covered by these rules. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after its passage and approval by the Governor, or otherwise becoming law.

Who It Affects

• Public officials and public employees in Alabama, who would be prohibited from soliciting or using private funds to administer elections except under specified approvals.
• Private individuals, corporations, partnerships, trusts, or third parties, who would generally be barred from providing private funds for election administration unless an approved exception applies.
• State government leaders and legislators (Governor, Comptroller, Secretary of State, President Pro Tempore, Speaker) who would grant the exceptions allowing private funding.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits public officials and public employees from soliciting, receiving, accepting, or expending private gifts, donations, in-kind contributions, or funding to administer any election from private sources not provided through ordinary appropriations.
• Exceptions permit private funding only if approved by either (1) a joint legislative resolution when the Legislature is in session, or (2) the Governor and the named officials when the Legislature is not in session.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Elections