SB118 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Feb 22, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: J.T. WaggonerSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: Relating to municipalities; to amend Section 11-42-5 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to validate and ratify under certain conditions any municipal annexation by any municipality prior to the effective date of this act notwithstanding any procedural defect by the municipality.
Summary: SB118 would retroactively validate and ratify municipal annexations completed before the act’s effective date, even if there were procedural defects, under specified conditions.
What This Bill Does
It amends Section 11-42-5 to ratify and give full effect to any annexation undertaken before May 4, 2011 (the act’s effective date) that followed the required procedure and was completed, despite any irregularities. It excludes annexations that have already been held invalid by Alabama courts or final judgments with no timely appeal, and those whose validity is still an issue in a pending case begun before May 4, 2011. It does not change road-related responsibilities established in Article 5 starting at Section 11-49-80. The act becomes effective immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects
Municipalities (cities and towns) in Alabama with annexations completed before May 4, 2011, whose annexations would be ratified and given full effect.
Residents and property owners within those annexed areas, whose local government authority over the area would be reaffirmed through the ratified annexations.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 11-42-5 to ratify and confirm annexations completed prior to May 4, 2011 under any statutory annexation procedure, notwithstanding procedural irregularities.
Excludes annexations that have already been held invalid by the Alabama Supreme Court, Court of Civil Appeals, or a final circuit court judgment with no timely appeal, and annexations whose validity is in a pending action begun before May 4, 2011.
States that the section does not alter Article 5 requirements (beginning at Section 11-49-80) regarding municipalities’ responsibility for roads in annexed areas.
Effective immediately upon the governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Municipalities, annexation, validated notwithstanding procedural defect