HB194 Summary

• Amends Section 106 of the Alabama Constitution to require advertisement of special, private, or local bills prior to legislative introduction without cost to the state.

• Reduces the required publication period from four to three consecutive weeks in newspapers of general circulation in affected counties, or by posting at five locations for two consecutive weeks if no newspaper exists.

• Requires proof of notice to be certified by the house clerk or senate secretary, attached to the original bill, and filed in the Department of Archives and History as a public record.

• Restricts amendments to special, private, or local bills to members representing affected counties and only if amendments relate to the bill's advertised subject without changing fundamental features; amended bills cannot advance to final passage for 10 calendar days.

• Requires courts to void any special, private, or local law where legislative journals do not affirmatively show compliance with these notice and procedural requirements.