The process for a bill to become a law in Alabama involves several key steps: 1. Introduction: A bill can be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. However, bills affecting revenue must start in the House. 2. Notice and Proof: For local and special bills, notice must be given through a newspaper for four consecutive weeks before introduction. 3. Committee Review: After introduction, the bill is assigned to a committee for consideration. Committees are crucial as they review and make recommendations on bills. 4. Readings: A bill must be read three times in each house: - First Reading: Usually by title only. - Second Reading: Done after committee report. - Third Reading: Detailed consideration, discussion, and voting occur here. 5. Voting: Votes are cast, and if a majority approves in both houses, the bill is passed. If amendments are made by the second house, it returns to the house of origin for approval. 6. Conference Committee: If there are disagreements between the two houses, a conference committee may be formed to negotiate differences. 7. Enrollment: After passing both houses in identical form, the bill is enrolled. This means it is prepared for transmittal to the Governor. 8. Governor's Action: - The Governor may sign the bill, and it becomes law. - If vetoed, the bill returns to the originating house where if a majority agrees to the amendments, it may be sent back to the Governor for signature. - If the Governor does not act within six days (excluding Sundays), the bill may become law without his signature. 9. Constitutional Amendments: Amendments require a three-fifths approval from both houses and do not require a Governor’s signature; instead, they go directly to voters for approval.

Members of the public can get involved in the legislative process in Alabama in several ways: 1. Contact Legislators: Citizens can reach out directly to their elected representatives in the House of Representatives or the Senate. They can express their views, provide input on legislation, and discuss issues that matter to them. 2. Attend Legislative Sessions: Members of the public are encouraged to attend sessions of the Legislature. Observing the legislative process gives citizens insight into how laws are made and allows them to witness debates and discussions firsthand. 3. Follow Legislative Activity: Tracking a bill allows you to receive updates on legislative information, including the status of bills, upcoming hearings, and other relevant activities. This allows the public to stay informed and engaged. 4. Participate in Public Hearings: Many committees hold public hearings where citizens can voice their opinions on specific bills or issues. Attending these hearings is a direct way to influence the legislative process. 5. Submit Proposals: Citizens can propose new legislation or amendments. While there are specific processes for this, active engagement and communication with legislators can help initiate discussions around new ideas. 6. Engage with Advocacy Groups: Many organizations focus on various issues and can help citizens learn how to advocate effectively for certain legislation or policies. 7. Vote: Being an informed voter and participating in elections ensures that citizens have a say in who represents them and what policies are put forward.

Tracking bills is hard, especially if you rely on state legislature websites, which are often hard to navigate. Thousands of bills get filed in Alabama every year (and about 180,000 bills nationwide). If you want to be an effective advocate, you need to know where legislation of interest stands, and act quickly.

FastDemocracy's free version allows you to track an unlimited number of bills - no strings attached. We'll send you a daily or weekly email on your priority bills and give you tools to research bills and legislators.

FastDemocracy Professional is for anyone who tracks bills in a professional capacity. It features

• real-time bill, amendment and hearing alerts
• automated reporting
• team collaboration
• bill tagging for clients and stakeholders
• bill similarity detection
• ...and much more

1. Sign up here for a free FastDemocracy account.

2. Head to Tracked Topics to select issue areas you care about.

3. Use the search bar on top if you're looking for something specific.

4. Click "Track Bill" for any legislation you'd like to monitor a bit closer. That's how you add it to your Tracked Bills. You can also click on a bill to learn more, see the bill summary, most recent actions, votes, news and tweets. You can also contact legislators or share your bills on social media.

5. You can track an unlimited number of bills for free and we'll send you a daily or weekly email if your tracked legislation moves.

6. Do you need real-time alerts, outreach tools, bill lists, and professional functions? Then FastDemocracy Professional is the right fit for you.

7. Track bills on your smartphone using our free mobile app.

You can use the Find Your Legislators tool to find them, see their voting records, and contact them.