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AlabamaHB3072025 Regular SessionHouse

Courts, appointment, support, and powers of visiting judges provided for

Sponsored By: Jim Hill (Republican)

Enacted

Courts & Judges

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Alabama courts gain case reassignment options

Beginning June 1, 2025, presiding circuit judges can reassign cases when doing so serves the interests of justice. They can choose any other circuit or district judge within the same circuit. The receiving judge’s division or specialty does not limit the reassignment.

Visiting judges for Alabama violent-crime cases

Beginning June 1, 2025, Alabama’s chief justice can appoint sitting or retired circuit judges for cases involving state-defined violent offenses. The attorney general or a district attorney must identify the case and explain why a visiting judge is needed. The chief justice must decide within 30 days and approve requests that serve the public interest, considering available funds. Visiting judges have the assigned judgeship’s full powers and serve until the case is finally resolved. They must make every effort to hold jury trials during the circuit’s scheduled jury weeks. On a prosecutor’s motion, they can seat an additional jury when needed to speed justice, overriding the capital-murder special-jury ban.

Pay and courtroom support for visiting judges

Beginning June 1, 2025, visiting judges receive payment for actual, necessary expenses approved by the chief justice; retired judges may also receive compensation under state law. Counties must provide adequate courtroom space for their hearings and trials. Judges can use an official court reporter or request an available roving reporter in the host circuit. If those options are unavailable, judges can request a special reporter; only after all options fail can prosecutors hire one. The new State Treasury Speedy Trial Fund pays only authorized visiting-judge expenses, at the chief justice’s discretion, under state budgeting and allotment rules; no deposit, appropriation, or payment amount is specified.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Jim Hill

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Jim Carns

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 472 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 936

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/15/2025

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 30 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 443

Yes: 102 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 442

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 441

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 3/18/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 102 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    5/14/2025House

  2. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 936

    5/6/2025Senate

  3. Ready to Enroll

    5/6/2025House

  4. Enrolled

    5/6/2025House

  5. Signature Requested

    5/6/2025Senate

  6. Delivered to Governor

    5/6/2025House

  7. Third Reading in Second House

    4/15/2025Senate

  8. Carried Over

    4/15/2025Senate

  9. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    4/9/2025Senate

  10. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    4/9/2025Senate

  11. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary

    3/19/2025Senate

  12. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    3/19/2025Senate

  13. Third Reading in House of Origin

    3/18/2025House

  14. Judiciary Engrossed Substitute Offered

    3/18/2025House

  15. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 441

    3/18/2025House

  16. Hill 1st Amendment Offered

    3/18/2025House

  17. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 442

    3/18/2025House

  18. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 443

    3/18/2025House

  19. Engrossed

    3/18/2025House

  20. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    2/27/2025House

  21. Judiciary 1st Amendment

    2/26/2025House

  22. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/26/2025House

  23. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary

    2/18/2025House

  24. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    2/18/2025House

Bill Text

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