Alabama Legislature Proposes Constitutional Amendment Removing Local Bill Hurdle
The Alabama Legislature has put forth a constitutional amendment that aims to streamline the approval process for local bills. The proposed amendment, known as Senate Bill 3 (SB3), would eliminate the need for a budget isolation resolution (BIR) for local bills that apply to individual counties or cities. While this may seem like insider jargon to most people, it has significant implications for the legislative process in Alabama.
Currently, the budget isolation resolution is a mandatory step for any bill considered before the state budgets. The requirement was established in 1983 through Amendment 448 to ensure that lawmakers prioritize state budgets. However, SB3 seeks to amend Section 71.01 of the Alabama Constitution of 2022 and exempt local bills from this additional procedural hurdle.
According to Senator Clyde Chambliss, the sponsor of SB3, removing the BIR requirement for local bills would eliminate an unnecessary obstacle that has had minimal impact on legislation. Local bills make up a substantial portion of the bills considered each legislative session, and Chambliss believes the elimination of this requirement would make the process more efficient.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time Alabama voters have been asked to weigh in on a legislative procedure that few are familiar with. In 2016, an amendment was passed to resolve a discrepancy concerning the BIR, which threatened to nullify hundreds of local laws. This discrepancy arose from an old House of Representatives rule that based the three-fifths margin for the BIR on the number of votes cast, rather than three-fifths of a quorum, as required by Amendment 448.
If approved by voters, the proposed amendment will only remove the BIR requirement for local bills, not statewide bills. This means that the Legislature will still need to pass a budget isolation resolution for bills that have broader implications.
Sonny Brasfield, the executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama, supports SB3 and believes it will clear up any questions surrounding the number of votes required to pass a local bill. He emphasizes that the BIR vote is not the final vote that leads to the bill becoming law. While acknowledging that the average citizen may not be familiar with the intricacies of the legislative process, Brasfield believes it is crucial to educate voters on the proposed amendment.
As the primary election approaches on March 5, it will be essential for legislators to engage with their constituents and provide them with a clear understanding of the amendment. Chambliss hopes that closer to the election, efforts will be made to educate the public on the issue without overwhelming them with information too far in advance.
In conclusion, the proposed constitutional amendment seeks to remove the budget isolation resolution requirement for local bills in Alabama. While this may appear to be an obscure change in legislative procedure, it could have significant implications for streamlining the approval process. As March approaches, legislators will need to prioritize educating voters to ensure they can make an informed decision on this proposed amendment.
