Alabama Constitution Section 66 - Signature of bills by presiding officer of each house; reading of bills at length may be dispensed with.
Alabama Constitution – Section 66: Signature of Bills by Presiding Officer of Each House; Reading of Bills at Length May Be Dispensed With
Text of Section 66:
"Every bill shall be signed by the presiding officer of each house in open session before it shall become a law. The reading of a bill at length on three different days in each house may be dispensed with in case of the general appropriation bill or if, in case of any other bill, a vote of four-fifths of the house in which the bill is pending shall so order."
Explanation:
Section 66 outlines procedural rules for how laws are passed in the Alabama Legislature.
Key Provisions:
Presiding Officers Must Sign Bills in Public:
Every bill must be signed by the presiding officer (e.g., Speaker of the House, President of the Senate) of each legislative chamber.
This must be done in open session, ensuring transparency before a bill becomes law.
Reading of Bills – Three-Day Rule:
Normally, each bill must be read in full on three separate days in both houses of the Legislature.
This rule promotes deliberation and review of proposed laws.
Exceptions to the Reading Rule:
The requirement can be waived for:
The general appropriation bill (budget-related bills).
Any other bill, if four-fifths (80%) of the members of the house where the bill is being considered vote to dispense with the rule.
Purpose:
To ensure a transparent, accountable, and deliberate lawmaking process, while allowing limited exceptions for efficiency in urgent or routine matters.
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