SB271 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shay ShelnuttSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Attorney General's Office, Alabama Faith-Based Intelligence Commission and Director of the Alabama Faith-Based Intelligence Commission, established within

Summary

SB271 would create the Alabama Faith-Based Intelligence Commission in the Attorney General’s Office to study anti-Semitism and faith-based persecution, appoint a Director to lead it, and require annual reporting.

What This Bill Does

It would establish the Alabama Faith-Based Intelligence Commission within the Attorney General’s Office to research anti-Semitism and faith-based persecution and to recommend remedies, with a focus on Alabama history. It would create a full-time Director of the Commission in the Executive Division to chair the group and lead its work, appointed by the Attorney General and serving a four-year term. It would appoint 12 commission members (three each by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House) to ensure regional representation and diversity, with four-year terms and in-person meetings at least four times per year. It would require an annual report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, due no later than October 1 of each year starting in 2025, and establish compensation rules for legislative and nonlegislative members.

Who It Affects

• Religious and faith-based communities in Alabama, who would be the focus of the commission’s research, education efforts, and remedies related to anti-Semitism and persecution.
• State government and lawmakers (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, presiding officers of the Legislature) and the Attorney General’s Office, who would appoint members, oversee the commission, and receive annual reports.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Faith-Based Intelligence Commission within the Office of the Attorney General and defines the commission and its director.
• Requires the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and Speaker of the House to appoint three members each, ensuring regional representation (Auburn, Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, Montgomery, Tuscaloosa) and diversity; members serve four-year terms.
• Duties include researching anti-Semitism and faith-based persecution (history, definitions, misconceptions, discrimination, and remedies) and recommending education and remedies.
• Creates the Director of the Alabama Faith-Based Intelligence Commission, who chairs the commission, is a full-time salaried position in the AG’s Executive Division, and serves a four-year term.
• Requires the director to call the first meeting and for the commission to hold at least four in-person public meetings each year.
• Gives legislative commission members per diem and travel reimbursement; nonlegislative members serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses.
• Requires an annual report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and Legislature, due no later than October 1, 2025, and each October 1 thereafter.
• Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

State & State Officers