# Alabama SB195: Decedents' estates, will contests, removal to circuit court authorized

Alabama SB195, Decedents' estates, will contests, removal to circuit court authorized, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Rodger M. Smitherman (Democratic); status enacted, last action 2026-03-12 (Enacted) (as of 2026-10-16).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB195-2026rs
- As of: 2026-10-16
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Alabama SB195
- State: Alabama
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Decedents' estates, will contests, removal to circuit court authorized
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-21
- Last action: 2026-03-12, Enacted
- Sponsor: Rodger M. Smitherman (Democratic)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Subjects: Property & Estates
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (277 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 1

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- More estate court options, but misuse costs: mixed, low. Beginning October 1, 2026, interested persons can move qualifying Alabama will contests and estate administration cases to the same county’s circuit court. They do not need to show a special equity reason for moving the case. This option excludes counties where the probate court or judge has concur…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Rodger M. Smitherman (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Merika Coleman (Democratic), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 104 | 0 |   |
| 2026-03-05 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 775 | pass | 105 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 34 | 0 |   |
| 2026-02-05 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 278 | pass | 34 | 0 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-03-12: Enacted (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Third Reading in Second House (House)
- 2026-03-05: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 775 (House)
- 2026-03-05: Ready to Enroll (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-03-05: Signature Requested (House)
- 2026-03-05: Delivered to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-02-12: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House)
- 2026-02-11: Reported Out of Committee Second House (House)
- 2026-02-05: Third Reading in House of Origin (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 278 (Senate)
- 2026-02-05: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary (House)
- 2026-02-05: Pending Committee Action in Second House (House)
- 2026-01-29: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate)
- 2026-01-28: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Judiciary (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Senate)

## Bill text

- As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB195-int.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB195-enr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for misuse of personal voter information; created (enacted)
- SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (enacted)
- SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require indigent candidates to submit documentation for fee exemption (enacted)
- HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for violations provided for (enacted)
- SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitation purposes prohibited; redaction of certain information relating to financial tr… (enacted)
- SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular (enacted)

## Sources
- [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB195-int.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB195-enr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB67-2026rs)
- [SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB154-2026rs)
- [SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require in…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB165-2026rs)
- [HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for vio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB317-2026rs)
- [SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitatio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB272-2026rs)
- [SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB190-2026rs)
- [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills)
- [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB195-2026rs (as of 2026-10-16).