HB35 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim HillRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Legislature; legislative sessions divided into two periods; deadline for passing budget bills imposed; Governor veto procedures revised; constitutional amendment

Summary

HB35 would split Alabama's regular legislative sessions into two periods, require budget bills to pass before the second period, allow veto overrides in the second period, and repeal outdated constitutional language.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the legislature's regular session would be divided into two periods each year. The first period would require passing basic budget bills, with a special budget session if necessary to handle appropriations; the second period would allow lawmakers to reconsider bills vetoed by the Governor. The bill also changes meeting rules, shortens and reorganizes organizational sessions, and removes obsolete constitutional provisions.

Who It Affects

• Lawmakers (Senate and House) who would operate under a two-period session schedule, handle budget timing, and use the veto override process.
• Governor/Executive branch, whose veto decisions and potential overrides by the Legislature would follow the new two-period process and associated timelines.

Key Provisions

• Regular sessions would be divided into two periods, with the first period starting on the first Tuesday in February and the second period starting on the first Tuesday in September; first period limited to 20 legislative days and 75 calendar days, second period to 10 legislative days and 30 calendar days.
• Budget bills must pass during the first period; if not, a special budget session is convened after the first period, limited to budget matters and constrained to specific time limits.
• During the second period, the Legislature may reconsider bills passed in the first period that were vetoed by the Governor, using a two-house override process with detailed voting and amendment procedures.
• Organizational sessions at the start of a quadrennium are limited to 10 days and focus on electing officers, organizing committees, and other essential organizational tasks.
• The amendment would replace and update certain sections of the Constitution (repealing obsolete provisions) and add rules for convening the Legislature if the Capitol is unsafe.

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