The bill amends Sections 36-25-14 and 36-25-15 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance the financial disclosure requirements for candidates and public officials. It changes the filing deadline for statements of economic interests from "on the date the candidate files his or her qualifying papers" to "in accordance with Section 36-25-15," clarifying the timing of the filing process. The bill specifies that public employees earning less than $75,000 annually are exempt from filing these statements and adjusts the income threshold for filing based on the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index. Additionally, it introduces a requirement for candidates to disclose detailed information about their economic interests, including household income and business affiliations, and increases the reporting threshold for time spent on occupations from "one" to "one-third."

Furthermore, the bill includes provisions to protect undercover law enforcement officers by allowing them to keep their residential addresses and family member names confidential through an affidavit. It mandates that candidates must file a completed statement of economic interests within five days of declaring their candidacy, with the stipulation that failure to do so will result in their name not appearing on the ballot, although a five-day extension may be granted for good cause. The bill deletes previous language regarding the timing of filing related to qualifying papers and clarifies that candidates do not need to file a second statement if one is already on file. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 36-25-14, 36-25-15
Engrossed: 36-25-14, 36-25-15