This amendment will change Section 71.01 of the Alabama Constitution. Section 71.01 establishes the priority of the next years budgets over the approval of other laws by the Legislature. Currently, Section 71.01 prohibits bills or laws from being considered by the House of Representatives or the Senate before the budgets are approved by the Legislature and sent to the Governor, unless an additional vote is approved by the House and Senate of at least a three-fifths (3/5ths) vote.
This amendment will change Section 71.01 to provide exceptions for the passage of local laws or local constitutional amendments.
If the majority of voters vote yes on Amendment 1, Section 71.01 of the Alabama Constitution will be changed to allow proposed local laws and proposed local constitutional amendments to be considered before the budgets are approved and sent to the Governor without the additional three fifths (3/5ths) vote.
If the majority of voters vote no on Amendment 1, Section 71.01 of the Alabama Constitution will not be changed and proposed local laws and proposed local constitutional amendments will continue to require the additional three-fifths (3/5ths) vote before being considered. There are no costs or additional taxes related to Amendment 1. The Constitutional authority for passage of Amendment 1 is set forth in accordance with Sections 284, 285 and 287 of the Constitution of Alabama. These sections outline the method a constitutional amendment may be put to the people of the State for a vote.[3]