There will be five statewide amendments on this year’s ballot. As a result of the Informed Voter Act passed during the 2014 Regular Session, a Fair Ballot Commission was created and charged with drafting descriptions of these ballot issues to be written in “plain, nontechnical language in a clear and coherent manner using words with common and everyday meaning that are understandable to the average reader”.
The law goes even further to create transparency and provide descriptions of the content of the measures as well as the impact of passage or defeat; cost, if any, and any impact on taxes or other revenue.
Below we have provided links to the descriptions provided by the Fair Ballot Commission along with our own summary paragraphs to make voting as simple and easy as possible. While voters go into their polling locations knowing who they will vote for, amendments are often unexpected. It is our hope to enable voters to make informed decisions. We hope that the below guide will help and encourage you to share with your friends so they are prepared as well.
>>>The title of each amendment links to the descriptions from the Fair Ballot Commission. The italicized text is the language you will see on the ballot for each amendment. Below that, you will find a brief explanation of what the amendment would do, who it was sponsored by and what its cost would be to taxpayers.
Amendment as Listed on the ballot: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to prohibit the State of Alabama giving full faith and credit to public acts, records, or judicial proceedings of another state that violate the public policy of the State of Alabama and to prohibit the application of foreign law in violation of rights guaranteed natural citizens by the United States and Alabama Constitutions, and the statutes, laws, and public policy thereof, but without application to business entities.
General Explanation of Amendment: Amendment 1 proposes to add “the American and Alabama Laws for Alabama Courts Amendment” to the State Constitution. It was sponsored by Senator Gerald Allen (R-21) and would state that Alabama citizens will not be subject to foreign laws if application of the foreign law would violate Alabama law or citizens’ rights. The amendment’s implementation would have no impact on taxes and would have no cost to taxpayers.
Amendment as Listed on the ballot: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, relating to the Capital Improvement Trust Fund, to increase the amount of the General Obligation Bonds authorized herein; to provide for additional payments from the Alabama Trust Fund to fund any bond issued; to provide for competitive bidding of the bonds; and to provide for the distribution of the proceeds for plans, construction, and maintenance of Alabama National Guard armories.
General Explanation of Amendment: If passed, Amendment 2 would allow the state to borrow up to an additional $50 million in bonds to provide plans, construction and maintenance of Alabama National Guard armories. Proceeds from the Alabama Trust Fund would be used to repay the bonds, which must be repaid within 20 years. The cost of the amendment is not yet known. The estimated cost to the Alabama Trust Fund to repay the bonds is estimated at $3.7 million annually for 20 years. The amendment was sponsored by Senator Tom Whatley (R-27) and cosponsored by six other Republican senators.
Amendment as Listed on the ballot: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of 1901, to provide that every citizen has a fundamental right to bear arms and that any restriction on this right would be subject to strict scrutiny; and to provide that no international treaty or law shall prohibit, limit, otherwise interfere with a citizen’s fundamental right to bear arms.
General Explanation of Amendment: Amendment 3 was sponsored by Representative Mike Jones (R-92). If passed, Amendment 3 will make the right to bear arms a fundamental right under the State Constitution with the highest protection possible. The right to bear arms will still exist in Alabama should the amendment not pass. The amendment would just declare it a fundamental right protected from potential interference by international laws and treaties. The amendment would have no cost or impact on taxes.
Amendment as Listed on the ballot: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to prohibit a general law, whose purpose or effect is to require a new or increased expenditure of at least $50,000 of local funds annually, from becoming effective with regard to a city or county board of education without enactment by a two-thirds vote.
General Explanation of Amendment: Current law requires a majority vote of 50% in the Alabama Legislature to pass a law requiring local boards of education to cumulatively spend over $50,000 in local funds without providing the funds to pay for the increased expense. Amendment 4 will raise that requirement to a two-thirds (66%) majority vote. The amendment was sponsored by Senator Dick Brewbaker (R-25) and would not cost anything to implement.
Amendment as Listed on the ballot: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of 1901, to amend Amendment 597, now appearing as Section 36.02 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to clarify that the people have the right to hunt, fish, and harvest wildlife subject to reasonable regulations that promote conservation and management of fish and wildlife and preserve the future of hunting and fishing.
General Explanation of Amendment: Amendment 5 would add the “Sportsperson’s Bill of Rights” to the Alabama Constitution. It would ensure that the people of Alabama have the right to hunt, fish and harvest wildlife using traditional methods. If passed, the amendment would make hunting and fishing by the public the preferred means of managing and controlling wildlife in Alabama. The amendment would not cost anything to implement and would not affect any current laws. The amendment was sponsored by Representative Mark Tuggle (R-81) and 21 other representatives.