HB612 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rolanda HollisRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Child sexual abuse; Legislature authorized to revive lapsed rights or remedies, constitutional amendment

Summary

HB612 would amend Alabama's Constitution to allow the Legislature to revive time-barred rights or remedies related to child sexual abuse.

What This Bill Does

It creates a specific exception to the rule that time-barred rights or remedies cannot be revived, allowing revival for child sexual abuse cases if the Legislature passes general laws. The change would apply only to child sexual abuse and not to other types of claims. Voters would decide the amendment in a statewide election, and if approved, the Code Commissioner would place the amendment in the Constitution (with possible non-substantive edits). The amendment would take effect after ratification.

Who It Affects

• Survivors of child sexual abuse whose previously time-barred rights or remedies could be revived through future laws if the amendment passes.
• The Legislature and state government, which would gain the authority to revive such rights or remedies for child sexual abuse through general law following ratification.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 95 of the Constitution to authorize the Legislature to revive any right or remedy relating to child sexual abuse that may have become barred by lapse of time.
• Preserves the existing general prohibition on reviving time-barred rights or remedies for other matters (and related actions) but creates the specific exception for child sexual abuse.
• Provides for a statewide election to approve or reject the amendment, including ballot language describing the change.
• If approved by a majority of voters, the amendment becomes part of the Constitution; the Code Commissioner will number/place it and may perform nonsubstantive formatting changes.

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