SB222 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Legislature; to amend Section 29-1-4, 29-2-41, 29-2-41.2, 29-2-80, 29-2-81, 29-2-83, 29-2-201, 29-4-70, 29-5A-22, 29-5A-46, 29-6-1, 29-6-2, 29-6-3, 29-6-7, 41-5A-16, 41-9-370, and 41-9-374, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further for the date the Legislature convenes during the first year of a regular session; to provide additional time for the Contract Review Committee to review a contract and provide further for certain types of professional contracts; to provide further for property owned by the Legislative Council; to provide contingencies if a vacancy occurs in the Office of the Lieutenant Governor; to provide further for the role of the Code Commissioner and duties of the Legislative Council and Legislative Services Agency; to revise membership of the Joint Legislative Committee on Finances and Budgets; to provide further for tax expenditure reports made by the Legislative Fiscal Officer; to revise when members of the Legislative Committee on Public Accounts are elected; to repeal 29-5A-24 and 29-6-6, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to obsolete duties of the Legislative Reference Service and the Legislative Council; to repeal Sections 17-16-50 through 17-16-53, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the contested election of a legislator; and to delete obsolete language and make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Summary

SB222 updates Alabama's legislative calendar, oversight, and governance—moving the first-year session to February, expanding contract review, and reorganizing leadership, property, and budgeting duties.

What This Bill Does

Shifts organizational session to the second Tuesday in January and changes the start dates of regular sessions in the first year to February, with the fourth year starting in January; sets a maximum of 30 legislative days and 105 calendar days for annual sessions. Expands the Contract Review Committee’s oversight to include all personal and professional service contracts (including independent contractors) and attorney contracts, requires contract proposals or letters of intent with cost details, and imposes a 45-day window for hearings; if the committee misses the deadline, the contract is deemed reviewed, but contracts entered without review can be void ab initio. Transfers State House property to the Legislative Building Authority and then to the Legislative Council by operation of law, creates related funds and expenditure transparency requirements (including a public expenditures website) and sets security and maintenance provisions. Reorganizes leadership succession and legislative council structure, updates open meetings rules, and repeals obsolete provisions, while expanding joint staffing, human resources, and oversight duties across the Legislature.

Who It Affects

• Legislators, including the Speaker, President Pro Tempore, Lt. Governor (and potential vacancies), and legislative staff, who gain new session dates, expanded contract review duties, and revised governance structures.
• State agencies, contractors, vendors, and the public, who face tighter contract review processes, enhanced reporting and transparency of government expenditures, and new management of Capitol building resources and security.

Key Provisions

• §29-1-4: Organizational session moved to the second Tuesday in January; regular sessions begin February in the first, second, and third years and January (second Tuesday) in the fourth year; session length capped at 30 legislative days and 105 calendar days.
• §29-1-19.1: Legislature authorized to control certain Capitol-area streets and property use adjacent to the Capitol grounds.
• §29-2-41: Contract Review Committee reviews private/legal contracts; 45-day review window; hearings may be held; non-review within 45 days deemed compliant; contracts without prior review may be void ab initio; includes subpoena powers.
• §29-2-41.2: Personal and professional services include independent contractor agreements; attorney contracts (including appointments in the Attorney General’s office) reviewed; certain DOT condemnation contracts exempt.
• §29-2-80, §29-2-81, §29-2-83: Revisions to the Permanent Joint Legislative Committee on Finances and Budgets, including membership and meeting structure; alignment with standing finance/budget committees; open-meeting requirements.
• §29-2-201: State House property conveyed to Legislative Building Authority and then to Legislative Council; establishes related financial arrangements and transfer of title; sets funding through appropriations.
• §29-4-62: Speaker continuity; vacancy provisions; Deputy assumes duties if vacancy occurs until a successor is elected.
• §29-5A-22: Code Commissioner may perform nonsubstantive editorial revisions to update code language without changing meaning.
• §29-5A-46: Tax expenditure reports updated to biennial frequency, with details on exemptions and revenue impact; joint committee hearings on the report.
• §29-6-1, §29-6-2, §29-6-3, §29-6-7: Legislative Council restructured; new duties include budget management, space allocation, building maintenance for the State House, establishment of joint and shared staffing, salary/classifications through HR, open meeting rules, and annual orientation; creation of open expenditure website and cost-containment measures.
• §41-5A-16, §41-9-370, §41-9-374: Updates related to the Legislative Public Accounts Committee and the Commission on Uniform State Laws, including membership, budget, and dues processes.
• Repeals: §29-5A-24, §29-6-6 (obsolete duties of Legislative Reference Service and Legislative Council); §§17-16-50 through 17-16-53 (contested election provisions) are repealed; codification and minor nonsubstantive edits to current law language.

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