HB16 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill LambRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Fair Campaign Practices Act; authorize notifications of civil penalties by electronic mail in lieu of certified mail in certain circumstances

Summary

HB16 would let the Secretary of State notify civil penalties under the Fair Campaign Practices Act by email in certain cases, reserving certified mail for penalties where mailing costs exceed the penalty amount.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it authorizes electronic (email) notices for civil penalties and limits certified mail notices to penalties that exceed mailing costs. It retains the penalty schedule (first offense up to $300 or 10%, second up to $600 or 15%, third or subsequent up to $1,200 or 20%), and adds a rebuttable presumption of intent for a fourth or later offense. It requires penalties to be paid within 45 days, directs enforcement offices to pursue collection, and directs that penalties go to the State General Fund; it becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Candidates for office and political action committees (PACs)/principal campaign committees: subject to civil penalties for late or inaccurate reports, must keep committee contact information current, may pay penalties from campaign funds, and can avoid penalties for timely amended reports under certain conditions.
• The Secretary of State, State Ethics Commission, Attorney General, and district attorneys: gain authority to issue and collect penalties (including electronic notices), enforce penalties, and distribute collected funds to the State General Fund.

Key Provisions

• Authorize electronic (email) notice of civil penalties when an email is on file, and limit certified-mail notices to penalties that exceed the cost of mailing.
• Maintain the penalty schedule: first offense = lesser of $300 or 10% of unreported contributions/expenditures; second offense = lesser of $600 or 15%; third or subsequent offense = lesser of $1,200 or 20%.
• Create a rebuttable presumption of intent for a fourth or subsequent filing violation; require notification to the Attorney General and district attorneys for those with four or more violations in an election cycle.
• Require notification by certified mail if applicable; allow electronic notice in addition to certified mail when on-file email exists; penalties exceeding mailing costs still require certified mail to the address on file.
• Penalties must be paid within 45 days of finality; the SOS may pursue recovery and recover related costs; penalties collected go to the State General Fund.
• Penalties may be paid with campaign funds.
• Voluntary amended reports correcting timely errors may avoid penalties under specified conditions (candidates before election, PACs before year-end).
• If a first timely failure is corrected within 48 hours, it is not treated as an offense or penalty.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Elections, Voting, & Campaigns