Senate Bill 87 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Civil procedure; statute of limitations in civil actions against real estate appraisers established, statute of limitations for complaints to Board of Real Estate Appraisers established

Summary

SB87 creates a statute of limitations for civil actions against real estate appraisers and for disciplinary complaints to the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board, and updates related disciplinary rules.

What This Bill Does

It adds a three-year discovery-based limit for civil actions against a real estate appraiser, with a hard cap of five years from when the appraisal was completed, and it excludes actions involving fraud or collusion to inflate value. It also updates the Board's authority to investigate complaints, discipline licensees for a wide range of misconduct, and impose fines, education requirements, and reprimands. Complaints about appraisals completed more than five years before the complaint cannot be considered. The act takes effect June 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Licensed real estate appraisers (licensees) – subject to new time limits for civil actions and expanded disciplinary powers, including license actions, fines, and record-keeping requirements.
• Plaintiffs, clients, and others who sue appraisers or file disciplinary complaints – must act within the new time limits; complaints about older appraisals may be dismissed, and the Board has broader disciplinary tools.

Key Provisions

• Adds 6-2-42 establishing a statute of limitations for civil actions based on a real estate appraisal: actions must be started within three years after discovery of the act or omission and within five years after completion; fraud-related actions are not subject to these limits.
• Amends 34-27A-20 to expand the Alabama Real Estate Appraisers Board's disciplinary authority, including revoking/suspending licenses, imposing fines, requiring education, and issuing public and private reprimands.
• Lists numerous grounds for disciplinary action (e.g., false statements to obtain a license, failure to meet qualifications, bribery, crimes related to appraisals, dishonesty/fraud, negligence or incompetence, violation of appraisal standards, contingent fee arrangements, and other misconduct).
• Gives the Board rules on complaint handling: not considering complaints about appraisals completed more than five years before the complaint; allows mitigation in civil-judgment disciplinary cases; and imposes fines up to $500 per violation.
• Effective date: June 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 4, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Civil Procedure