SB5 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve LivingstonSenator

Republican

Session

Second Special Session 2023

Title

To amend Section 17-14-70, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the reapportionment and redistricting of the state's United States Congressional districts for the purpose of electing members at the General Election in 2024 and thereafter, until the release of the next federal census; and to add Section 17-40-70.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to provide legislative findings.

Summary

SB5 redraws Alabama's seven U.S. Congressional districts for the 2024 election and adds findings to guide redistricting through the 2030 census.

What This Bill Does

It establishes seven U.S. Congressional districts using the Pringle Plan 1 and Livingston Plan 3-2023 framework, with boundary descriptions based on census data for the 2024 election and continuing until after the 2030 census. It adds Section 17-40-70.1 with legislative findings that emphasize traditional redistricting principles and compliance with federal law, including the Voting Rights Act. It sets non negotiable rules like population equality, contiguity, compactness, limiting county splits, keeping communities of interest together, and not pairing incumbents in the same district, plus requirements to preserve district cores and minimize splits. It requires posting the boundary map on the Legislature’s website and says certified map descriptions prevail over census-based descriptions.

Who It Affects

• Voters in Alabama's seven U.S. Congressional districts, whose district boundaries and representation may change under SB5.
• Incumbent members of Congress, since the plan prohibits pairing incumbents in the same district and guides how districts are drawn to protect existing cores and minimize splits.

Key Provisions

• Redraws Alabama into seven congressional districts for the 2024 General Election using the Pringle Congressional Plan and Livingston Plan 3-2023, with boundary descriptions tied to census data and incorporated by reference.
• Adds Section 17-40-70.1 with findings that the Legislature will adhere to traditional redistricting principles and comply with federal laws, including the Voting Rights Act, and that these principles are non-negotiable.
• Outlines traditional redistricting principles: districts based on population with minimal deviation; contiguous and reasonably compact geography; no more than six county splits; and keeping communities of interest together.
• Prohibits pairing incumbent members of Congress within the same district.
• Requires preserving the cores of existing districts and minimizing county and subdivision splits, including neighborhoods and communities of interest.
• Declares three regions as communities of interest to be kept together as much as possible: the Black Belt, the Gulf Coast, and the Wiregrass, with specifics on which counties are included in each.
• Defines Gulf Coast as including Mobile and Baldwin counties and describes their shared economic and cultural ties, including the Port of Mobile and related industries.
• Requires the map to be posted on the Legislature’s website, with boundary descriptions from the certified map prevailing over census descriptions; allows alternative maps introduced during the session.
• Effective for the 2024 U.S. House elections and lasting until after the 2030 census redistricting.

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

Subjects

Congressional districts, redrawn