HB 263 Summary

• Proposes a constitutional amendment allowing Alabama citizens to initiate general laws and constitutional amendments through a petition process, with the Legislature able to offer alternate proposals.

• Citizens must file a preliminary petition with 1,000 qualified voter signatures and a $1,000 filing fee with the Secretary of State to begin the initiative process.

• For general laws, the final petition requires signatures equal to at least 7% of votes cast for Governor in the last gubernatorial election, with at least 1% from each congressional district; for constitutional amendments, 10% is required.

• The Legislature has until the 30th legislative day to enact or reject the proposal; if rejected, the measure goes to voters at the next statewide election held 90 or more days after adjournment.

• Laws enacted through initiative bypass the Governor and cannot be amended except by voter approval; no special elections may be called solely for initiatives, and no more than two initiative measures may be enacted per legislative session.