Environment
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
StateAlabamaEnacted
SB 165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require indigent candidates to submit documentation for fee exemption
Jones (A)
SB 165 status: Enacted (updated Apr 17, 2026).
Source
OpenStates
Confidence
Low
Analysis basis
Bill metadata only
01
What this bill does
Official summary alongside an AI-generated read on where it stands and why.
Overall Score
Not enough information
Score:Not enough information
Risk:Moderate Risk
Impact:Moderate Impact 45/100
Constitutionality50%
Bipartisan50%
Public opinion50%
Bill summary
What changes
The bill updates municipal election procedures by setting specific qualification fee amounts and mandating that candidates seeking an exemption due to indigency provide formal documentation.
Who is affected
Municipal election candidates and municipal election officials across Alabama.
Requirements and enforcement
Candidates unable to pay fees must now provide proof of indigency, though the specific types of documentation required are not detailed in the metadata.
Costs and funding
Requires candidates to potentially pay a set qualification fee or undergo an administrative process to prove financial hardship.
When it takes effect
The bill has been enacted as of April 2026.
Potential benefits
Provides a clear statutory framework for candidate qualification fees and standardizes the process for seeking fee exemptions.
Risks and tradeoffs
Risk of creating bureaucratic barriers that could discourage low-income individuals from running for office.
What is still unknown
The specific fee amounts, the definition of indigency, and the specific documentation standards required are not available in the metadata.
02
Impact analysis
✦ AI analysisModeled effects across six domains, estimated from bill text and comparable legislation.
Economy
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Society
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Technology Industry
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Civic Accountability
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
Public Health & Safety
Not enough information
Not enough information to score this sector.
Benefits
- No material direct effect identified.
Risks
- No material direct effect identified.
03
How trustworthy & consequential it is
Sourcing already shown above, this is what the analysis found worth flagging.
Source
OpenStates
Official bill text or data from OpenStates.
Confidence
Low
Information is limited or incomplete.
Analysis basis
Bill metadata only
Source used for this bill's analysis.
Source note
LegiScan returned a PDF-only document. PDF extraction is not enabled in this build, so the pipeline used a safer fallback.
Analysis scope
Analysis based on metadata only due to unavailable full bill text.
04
Where it stands
Official recordEnacted
- IntroducedComplete
- CommitteeComplete
- Chamber votesComplete
- Final agreementComplete
- GovernorComplete
- EnactedComplete
05
How it affects your district
✦ Personalized
Set your location
Add your district to see how this bill may affect your community and who to contact.
Your Representatives
Your representatives appear here once you add your location.
06
Take action
Contact your representatives
Let them know how you feel about this bill.
Share your view
Join the discussion and see what others are saying.
Track this bill
Stay updated on progress and changes.