Alabama House Bill HB278

Alabama 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 4/11/23
• Refer: 4/11/23
• Report Pass: 5/3/23

Caption

To adopt and incorporate into the Code of Alabama 1975, those general and permanent laws of the state enacted during the 2021 First Special Session, the 2021 Second Special Session, the 2022 First Special Session, and the 2022 Regular Session as contained in the 2022 Cumulative Supplements to certain volumes of the code and 2023 Replacement Volumes 13, 13A, and 13B; and to adopt and incorporate into the Code of Alabama 1975, the 2022 Cumulative Supplements to local law volumes; to make corrections in certain volumes of the cumulative supplements and replacement volumes; to specify that this adoption and incorporation constitute a continuous systematic codification of the entire Code of Alabama 1975, and that this act is a law that adopts a code; to declare that the Code Publisher has certified that it has discharged its duties regarding the replacement volumes; to expressly provide that this act does not affect any 2023 session statutes; and to specify the duties of the Secretary of State regarding the custody of the cumulative supplements and replacement volumes.

Impact

This legislation is significant as it constitutes a continuous systematic codification of the entire Code of Alabama 1975. It not only adopts new laws but also corrects previous volumes, thereby enhancing the clarity and organization of state statutes. The bill explicitly states that it does not affect 2023 session statutes, making it crucial for maintaining the integrity of the legal framework during ongoing legislative activities.

Summary

House Bill 278 aims to adopt and incorporate general and permanent laws of Alabama into the Code of Alabama 1975, specifically laws enacted during several special and regular sessions from 2021 and 2022. This includes the integration of 2022 cumulative supplements and 2023 replacement volumes. The intent is to create a seamless codification of Alabama laws, ensuring that they are updated and accessible, reflecting changes made in various sessions of the legislature.

Contention

While the bill appears to be largely technical in nature, aspects of legal codification and the duties assigned to the Secretary of State regarding the custody of these documents may raise questions in the legislative discussions. There may be concerns among legislators regarding the implications of codifying laws from multiple sessions without further amendments or debates, as well as how this affects the transparency of law-making. Merchants and legal professionals particularly interest themselves in the codification effort as it impacts their compliance obligations.