HB206 Summary

• Proposes a constitutional amendment to Alabama's Constitution of 1901 establishing procedures for citizens to initiate new laws, amend the constitution, or repeal existing laws through petition and referendum.

• Initiative petitions for new general law or constitutional amendments require signatures from registered voters totaling at least 5 percent of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election; constitutional amendment initiatives require 10 percent.

• Referendum petitions to repeal existing general law require signatures from at least 5 percent of votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election.

• No more than 25 percent of signatures on any initiative or referendum petition may come from residents of a single county, and the Secretary of State must verify sufficient signatures before placement on the ballot.

• Qualified initiatives and referendums must be placed on the next statewide general election ballot occurring 90 or more days after Secretary of State approval, with the Legislature authorized to enact implementing legislation.