HB245 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben HarrisonRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Legislature, authorized to request Secretary of State to poll members whether to convene special session and authorize Senate President Pro Tem and Speaker to call Legislature into special session in certain conditions

Summary

HB245 would amend Alabama's Constitution to let the Legislature call itself into a special session under a defined process, instead of relying only on the Governor.

What This Bill Does

The bill would create a process for the Legislature to convene a special session if at least 30% of members submit written requests to the Secretary of State. The Secretary would poll all members within seven days, and if a majority in both the Senate and House approve, the Secretary would notify the Senate President Pro Tempore and the House Speaker, who must issue a joint proclamation to call the session. The session would be limited to topics designated in the governor's proclamation unless two-thirds of each house votes to include other subjects, and it would last up to 12 legislative days and 30 calendar days, with the convening date set at least 14 days and no more than 21 days after notification. If the required requests are not received within 60 days after the first request, all requests would be void and could not be used again, and the governor would still retain the authority to call a session under existing law.

Who It Affects

• Members of the Legislature: would be able to trigger a special session by submitting written requests and voting to approve the call.
• Secretary of State and legislative leaders (President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House): would manage the request process, poll members, notify leaders, and issue the joint proclamation to convene the session.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the Legislature to call itself into a special session when 30% of members submit written requests to the Secretary of State; the Secretary must poll members within seven days, and a majority vote in both houses is required to proceed.
• Special sessions would be limited to subjects designated in the governor's proclamation unless two-thirds of each house vote to include other subjects.
• Session duration is limited to 12 legislative days and 30 calendar days; the proclamation must set the convening time not less than 14 days and not more than 21 days after notification.
• If the necessary written requests are not received within 60 days after the first request, all requests are void and cannot be reused.
• Governor's authority to convene a special session remains intact; the amendment also sets out a voter ratification process for the constitutional change, including how the election is described on the ballot and how the amendment becomes part of the Constitution if approved.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments Statewide