Senate Bill 39 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Legislative Committee on Reapportionment; appointment of members to committee revised

Summary

SB39 changes who appoints Senate members to the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment and creates a temporary, larger 22-member committee during census-related reapportionment, effective October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

The bill shifts the authority to appoint Senate members on the committee from the Lieutenant Governor to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate. It also establishes a temporary 22-member version of the committee to be used during quadrenniums when the U.S. census is released and reapportionment is underway, with specific seats for district and at-large members from both the House and Senate. Once the reapportionment is finished, the committee would revert back to the six-member structure described in current law. The act would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Senate members on the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment would be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate instead of the Lieutenant Governor.
• House members and Alabama voters would be affected during census-related quadrenniums by a temporary expansion to 22 members (including House district and at-large seats) with appointments by the Speaker for House seats and by the Lieutenant Governor/President Pro Tempore for Senate seats, potentially changing participation in redistricting decisions.

Key Provisions

• Senate members on the Permanent Legislative Committee on Reapportionment will be appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, replacing the current practice of appointment by the Lieutenant Governor.
• In quadrenniums when the U.S. census is released and reapportionment occurs, the committee expands to 22 members (one House member from each congressional district, four House at-large members, one Senate member from each district, and four Senate at-large members) with House seats appointed by the Speaker and Senate seats appointed by the Lieutenant Governor/President Pro Tempore; after reapportionment, the committee reverts to six members, and the act becomes effective October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Legislature