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HB472 INTRODUCED
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HB472
XDY2BE7-1
By Representatives Mooney, Bolton, Easterbrook, Fincher,
Starnes, Stubbs
RFD: Ethics and Campaign Finance
First Read: 17-Feb-26
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XDY2BE7-1 02/17/2026 PMG (L) ma 2026-942
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First Read: 17-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
State ethics law requires a candidate to file a
statement of economic interests with the State Ethics
Commission for the previous year within five days after
the individual qualifies as a candidate, but does not
require an additional statement if a statement is
already on file with the commission. However, the law
does require a candidate who has already filed a
statement to provide proof to the commission of the
previous filing.
This bill would eliminate the requirement that a
candidate who has already filed a statement of economic
interests notify the State Ethics Commission of this
fact upon qualifying for candidacy.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to ethics, to amend Section 36-25-15, Code of
Alabama 1975, to eliminate a requirement that a candidate who
has already filed a statement of economic interests notify the
State Ethics Commission of this fact.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 36-25-15, Code of Alabama 1975, as
last amended by Act 2025-282 of the 2025 Regular Session, is
amended to read as follows:
"§36-25-15
(a) Candidates at every level of government shall file
a completed statement of economic interests for the previous
calendar year with the State Ethics Commission: (i) not more
than five days after the deadline to file a declaration of
candidacy as provided in Section 17-13-5, or in the case of an
independent candidate, not more than five days after the date
of the first primary election; or (ii) for a candidate for
municipal office, not more than five days after the deadline
for the candidate to file his or her qualifying papers with
the appropriate election official. Nothing in this section
shall be deemed to require a second filing of the individual's
statement of economic interests if a current statement of
economic interests is on file with the commission. If a
candidate has already filed a current statement of economic
interests for a reason other than his or her candidacy, the
candidate, by the deadline provided by this subsection, shall
provide proof to the commission that a current statement has
already been submitted or file a new or amended statement.
(b) Each election official who receives a declaration
of candidacy or petition to appear on the ballot for election
from a candidate, within five days of the receipt, shall
notify the commission of the name of the candidate, as defined
in this chapter, and the date on which the individual became a
candidate. The commission, within five business days of the
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HB472 INTRODUCED
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candidate. The commission, within five business days of the
filing deadline described in subsection (a), shall notify the
election official whether the candidate has complied with this
section. If the commission's notification indicates the
candidate has not complied with this section, the election
official shall immediately notify the candidate, and the
candidate shall have five additional days to provide evidence
to the election official that the candidate has filed a
statement of economic interests in compliance with this
section.
(c) Other provisions of the law notwithstanding, if a
candidate does not submit a statement of economic interests or
when applicable, an amended statement of economic interests in
accordance with the requirements of this chapter, the name of
the individual shall not appear on the ballot and the
candidate shall be deemed not qualified as a candidate in that
election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the commission, for
good cause shown, may allow the candidate an additional five
days to file the statement of economic interests. If a
candidate is deemed not qualified, the appropriate election
official shall remove the name of the candidate from the
ballot."
Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately.
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