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Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama proposes constitutional amendment authorizing Covington County probate judge to exercise equity jurisdiction
Last action · January 27, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Matthew Hammett
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What This Bill Does
An act proposes a constitutional amendment to allow the Judge of Probate of Covington County to exercise concurrent with circuit courts, provided the judge is licensed to practice law in Alabama. The amendment applies to cases originally filed in the Probate Court of Covington County and requires approval by a majority of qualified electors voting on the measure.
Changes the legal authority of the Covington County probate court for litigants, granting the probate judge circuit-court-level equity powers under specific licensing conditions.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Covington County residents
Litigants and residents filing cases in the Probate Court of Covington County may have their equity cases heard by the probate judge if licensing conditions are met.
Judge of Probate of Covington County
Gains the authority to exercise equity jurisdiction concurrent with circuit court judges when licensed to practice law in Alabama.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the proposed constitutional amendment do?
What conditions must the probate judge meet to exercise this equity jurisdiction?
How does this amendment become valid?
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News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law.
Procedural history
19 actions- Jan 27, 2026HouseEnrolledEnacted
- Jan 27, 2026SenateSignature Requested
- Jan 27, 2026HouseSent to Secretary of State
- Jan 27, 2026HouseEnrolledDelivered to Governor
- Jan 22, 2026HouseReady to Enroll
- Jan 22, 2026SenateChambliss Local Certification Resolution - Adopted Roll Call 97
Show 13 earlier actions
- Jan 22, 2026SenateFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 96
- Jan 22, 2026SenateThird Reading in Second House
- Jan 21, 2026SenateRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Jan 21, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Jan 20, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in Second House
- Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation
- Jan 20, 2026HouseLocalCertificationResolutionAdopted
- Jan 20, 2026HouseFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 39
- Jan 20, 2026HouseThird Reading in House of Origin
- Jan 15, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Jan 15, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance35How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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