HB227 Summary

• Establishes the "Transparency in Private Attorney Contracts Act" to regulate contingency fee contracts between Alabama state agencies and private attorneys.

• Requires state agencies to obtain written determination before entering contingency fee contracts, including findings on available legal resources, case complexity, required experience, and geographic factors.

• Sets tiered contingency fee caps: 25% on recoveries up to $10 million, declining to 5% on $25-50 million, and 1% on amounts exceeding $50 million.

• Mandates government attorney control over litigation, including approval of settlement decisions and veto power over private attorney actions; allows Attorney General to certify exceptional circumstances for fee waiver by executive order.

• Requires private attorneys to maintain detailed records for four years post-contract and post online disclosure of all contingency fee contracts and related determinations.