HB548 Summary

• Proposes constitutional amendment allowing Alabama citizens to initiate enactment of general laws and constitutional amendments through initiative petitions.

• Requires preliminary petition with 1,000 qualified voter signatures and $1,000 filing fee (refundable if initiative succeeds); final petition requires signatures equaling at least 7% of votes cast for Governor in last election for statutory initiatives and 10% for constitutional amendments.

• Legislature receives proposals before elections and may enact them without amendment by the 30th legislative day, or propose alternative legislation/amendments to appear on ballot alongside original initiative proposal.

• Proposals qualify for statewide election ballot 90+ days after Legislature adjourns if not enacted; laws adopted by initiative cannot be repealed or amended except by voter vote.

• Limits Legislature to considering no more than three initiatives per session; identical failed initiatives cannot be resubmitted within two years.