The Alabama Legislature has passed a resolution to amend Rule 25 of the Joint Rules, which pertains to the fiscal impact of general bills on local governing bodies. The previous version of Rule 25 required that the title of any general bill that would result in new or increased expenditures by a municipality, county, or their instrumentalities must include a statement indicating such financial impact. It also outlined procedures for bills that are exempt from the requirements of Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution of 2022, including the need for a section within the bill stating the basis for exclusion and a fiscal impact determination by the Legislative Services Agency, Fiscal Division.

The amendment to Rule 25 simplifies the process by stating that if a bill requires an increase in local expenditures greater than $50,000 annually and does not qualify for any exceptions under Section 111.05 of the Alabama Constitution of 2022, the fiscal note attached to the bill must include language indicating this financial impact. This change streamlines the legislative process by focusing on the inclusion of specific language in the fiscal note rather than requiring various statements and determinations within the bill's title and text. The resolution was passed by the House on February 27, 2024, and adopted by the Senate on March 21, 2024.