HB512 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kenyatte HassellRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to any Class 3 municipality organized under Act 618 of the 1973 Regular Session (Acts 1973, p. 879), providing for the mayor-council form of government in certain municipalities having a certain population according to the 1970 federal decennial census; to amend Section 45-51A-33.64 of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the passage of ordinances and resolutions by the city council and the delivery of the ordinances and resolutions to the Office of the Mayor for his or her consideration; to further provide for the necessary vote of the council if the mayor returns the ordinance or resolution of the council with his or her objections.

Summary

HB512 would let certain Class 3 Alabama municipalities' city councils override a mayor's veto with a two-thirds vote and adjust related ordinance procedures.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill applies to Class 3 municipalities organized under Act 618 (1973) and changes how ordinances and resolutions can be enacted after the mayor objects. It requires a two-thirds majority of the council present to override the mayor's objections, making the ordinance or resolution law if the override is successful (and after any required publication). It also standardizes council meeting rules, recordkeeping, and the timing of delivering and publishing ordinances, while preserving certain non-veto areas for the mayor (such as appointments and investigations).

Who It Affects

• City councils of Class 3 municipalities: must use a two-thirds majority of present members to override a mayor's objections to ordinances/resolutions.
• Mayors of those municipalities: their ability to veto is limited by the override process; they must respond within 10 days with objections, and some vetoes cannot be overridden for appointments or investigations.
• City residents/citizens: have access to council records and proceedings to inspect them.

Key Provisions

• Applies only to Class 3 municipalities organized under Act 618 (1973) and governs mayor-council government in those municipalities.
• Amends Section 45-51A-33.64 to require a two-thirds majority of the council present to override the mayor's objections to an ordinance or resolution.
• Requires regular council meetings (at least twice monthly), with written ordinances/readings, recorded yeas/nays, and public access to the meeting records.
• Ordinances/resolutions must be delivered to the mayor within 48 hours after passage; the mayor has 10 days to object in writing; if two-thirds of the council present override the objections, the measure becomes law (subject to publication if required).
• If publication is not required, the ordinance/resolution takes effect upon passage over objections; if the mayor does not return objections within 10 days, it is treated as approval.
• The mayor cannot veto appointments or actions related to investigations per another section (45-51A-33.242).
• Public records of council proceedings must be kept and made available for inspection by citizens.

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

Subjects

Change veto override for local legislation