SB233 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the Joint Transportation Committee; to amend Sections 29-2-3 and 29-2-4, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the process for electing the chair and vice-chair and provide further for the duties of the committee.

Summary

SB233 extends the leadership term for the Joint Transportation Committee, revises its duties, and adds local fuel tax reporting while removing a DOT performance-report requirement.

What This Bill Does

It changes leadership terms so the chair (House member) and vice-chair (Senate member) serve two years, with a defined rotation during each quadrennium and a transition in year four; if the chair position is vacant, the vice-chair acts until a replacement is elected. It also eliminates the committee's duty to submit a DOT performance report. The bill adds a local fuel tax reporting requirement, requiring counties and cities to report local fuel tax revenues and expenditures to the DOT, which must deliver a report to the Joint Transportation Committee by March 31 each year. It broadens the committee's duties to review and potentially amend the STIP, review and impact the transportation department's budget, develop a long-range plan with prioritized criteria, and publish reports and hold hearings for broader oversight.

Who It Affects

• Members and appointing authorities of the Joint Transportation Committee (House and Senate) — changes to leadership terms, rotation, vacancy rules, and attendance consequences.
• Counties and cities (local governments) and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) and state leadership — new local fuel tax reporting requirements and expanded oversight, planning, budgeting, and reporting processes.

Key Provisions

• Chair from House and vice-chair from Senate shall serve two-year terms, covering the second and third calendar years of each quadrennium; the vice-chair becomes chair in year four and the chair becomes vice-chair in the same cycle.
• If the chair position is vacant, the vice-chair serves as chair until a replacement is elected; vacancies are filled at the next quarterly meeting.
• A member absent from two quarterly meetings in a calendar year forfeits their position and a replacement is appointed by the appointing authority.
• Special meetings may be called with 14 days notice when the Legislature is out of session, or 24 hours notice on legislative days; majority can call a special meeting.
• Quorum is 13 members; if a quorum is not present, ALDOT's recommendations are deemed approved.
• Clerical support provided by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House upon request.
• Counties and cities must report local motor fuel excise tax revenues and expenditures to the DOT; DOT collects this information and reports to the Joint Transportation Committee by March 31 each year.
• The committee shall review and consider concurrence with the ALDOT long-range plan (STIP), and may propose fiscally constrained amendments; amendments are sent to the Governor for consideration if the committee approves.
• The annual update of ALDOT's funding plan must be presented to the committee; the committee reviews and reports on the department's budget, and may make budget recommendations to House Ways and Means and Senate Finance and Taxation committees.
• The committee shall prepare a long-range transportation plan with objective prioritization criteria and a narrative on conditions, challenges, and opportunities; this plan may be included in the annual report or published separately.
• The committee shall file findings and recommendations with both houses of the Legislature and the Governor, may hold public hearings, call witnesses, and investigate long-range highway needs; it will consider factors such as commuter benefits, economic growth, safety, ecological impact, recreation, traffic density, school bus routing, and four-lane interstate access priorities.

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

Subjects

Joint Transportation Committee, term of chair and vice-chair revised, duties revised