AlabamaAlabama law requires financial details removed from public contract records
Officers must remove details that could start a financial transaction from certain public contract records, and people may not use local school board name-and-address lists to help sell goods or services.
What it does
Officers must remove account, tax, routing, and employee ID numbers, plus other sensitive personal details that could be used to start a financial transaction, from requested public contract records.
People may not knowingly sell, give, or receive name-and-address lists from local school board records to help sell goods or services to people on the lists. The Attorney General may seek a penalty of up to $500 per violation.
The State Board of Education may give records custodians guidance and a sample form for certifications that requesters may have to provide.
Argument forPeople named in public contract records could face less risk of fraud when officers remove details that could be used to start a financial transaction.
Argument againstA requester could face an extra step when an officer reasonably suspects misuse, which may make access less convenient even for someone with a lawful purpose.
More detail
Public officers must remove specified financial details from requested records about public contracts for goods or services. This applies to records about public contracts for goods or services requested under Alabama's public records law. The act took effect immediately.
People may not knowingly sell, give, or receive covered name-and-address lists to help sell property or services to people on those lists. The rule covers name-and-address lists in or derived from public records requested from a local school board. The required certification also covers sales aimed at people who live at a listed address. The Attorney General may bring an action seeking a civil penalty of up to $500 for each knowing violation. When an officer has reasonable cause to believe a request may lead to a violation, the officer may require a written certification before responding. The certification must say the requester will not use or share the information for the prohibited sales purpose. An officer is not liable for providing records in good faith after receiving the written certification. The act took effect immediately.
The State Board of Education may issue guidance and a sample form for written certifications. The guidance and form are for public records custodians carrying out the certification process for requests that may lead to prohibited sales use. The board may provide guidance and a model form by rule. The act took effect immediately.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 17EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 9EnrolledTo Governor
- Apr 9Delivered to GovernorMinor
- Apr 9Signature Requested
- Apr 8Third Reading in Second House
- Vote recorded Gudger Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1265. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1316. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1317. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 8Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered (Judiciary)Minor
- Apr 8Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1316Major
- Apr 8Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1317Passed House
- Apr 8Gudger Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1265Major
- Apr 8Ready to Enroll
- Mar 5Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Judiciary)Minor
- Mar 4Reported Out of Committee Second House (Judiciary)
- Feb 19Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 487. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 488. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 19Orr 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Feb 19Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 487Major
- Feb 19Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 488Passed Senate
- Feb 19Engrossed
- Feb 19Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on JudiciaryMinor
- Feb 19Pending Committee Action in Second House (Judiciary)
- Feb 12Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Finance and Taxation Education)Minor
- Feb 11Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Feb 10Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation EducationMinor
- Feb 10Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Finance and Taxation Education)Introduced
Government & Ethics