HB161 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Insurance Department; to amend Section 27-2-39 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the department to post notice of hearings for the consideration of matters which would otherwise require separate notices to more than 50 persons on a website maintained by the department; and to require the department to post notices of hearings held for consideration of rules of the commissioner on a website maintained by the department and to publish the notices in the Alabama Administrative Monthly.

Summary

HB161 allows the Department of Insurance to post certain hearing notices on its website instead of newspaper publication, with specific online notice timelines for rule-related hearings and publication in the Alabama Administrative Monthly.

What This Bill Does

It lets the department post notices on its website at least 30 days before hearings that would otherwise require notices to more than 50 people, instead of publishing in newspapers. For hearings about the commissioner’s rules, it requires posting on the website at least 35 days before the hearing and publishing the notices in the Alabama Administrative Monthly. Notices must include time, place, and what will be considered; other notices follow existing procedures. The act does not apply to Chapter 13 hearings and becomes effective immediately after passage.

Who It Affects

• General public and stakeholders (residents, businesses, insurers) who rely on hearing notices, who will receive online notices at least 30 or 35 days in advance rather than newspaper notices.
• The Alabama Department of Insurance and publishers of the Alabama Administrative Monthly (and traditional newspaper publishers), which will shift some notice duties to online posting and required monthly publication for rule-related hearings.

Key Provisions

• authorize posting of hearing notices on the department's website at least 30 days before for matters requiring notices to more than 50 persons; in lieu of newspaper publication
• require posting of notices for hearings on the commissioner’s rules at least 35 days before and publication in the Alabama Administrative Monthly
• notices must state the time, place, and matters to be considered; other notices follow Section 27-2-18
• does not apply to hearings provided for in Chapter 13 of Title
• effective immediately following passage

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