The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, the state legislature of state of Alabama. The House is composed of 105 members representing an equal number of districts, with each constituency containing at least 42,380 citizens. There are no term limits in the House. The House is also one of the five lower houses of state legislatures in the United States that is elected every four years. Other lower houses, including the United States House of Representatives, are elected for a two-year term.
The House meets at the Alabama State House in Montgomery. The speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives is its leader.
Legal provisions The Alabama House of Representatives is the lower house of the Alabama Legislature, with the upper house being the Alabama Senate. Both bodies are constitutionally required to convene annually at the Alabama State House. In quadrennial election years (e.g. 2018), they convene on the second Tuesday in January. In the first year after quadrennial election years (e.g. 2019), they convene on the first Tuesday in March. In the second and third years of quadrennium (e.g. 2020 and 2021), the Legislature convenes on the first Tuesday in February. From that date of convention, the House of Representatives must meet for 30 legislative days over the course of 105 calendar days.
The legislature is not permitted to call for special sessions, though they may determine the subject of those sessions by a two-thirds vote in the event that they do take place. Special sessions in the Alabama Legislature span 30 calendar days and meet for 12 of them.
Membership requirements The Alabama House of Representatives consists of 105 members, each representing single-member legislative districts of equal size. State representatives have a term length of four years, uncommonly lengthy among lower legislative chambers in the United States. Members have been elected in what correspond with United States midterm election years since 1902.
In order to serve in the House, an individual must have attained the age of 21. The person must also be a qualified voter who has resided in the state of Alabama for at least three years and in their legislative district for at least one year. In accordance with Section 46 of the Constitution of Alabama, "the terms of office of the senators and representatives shall commence on the day after the general election at which they are elected, and expire on the day after the general election held in the fourth year after their election." As a result, representatives formally assume their positions on the day after Election Day in early November.
Leadership The most powerful individual in the chamber is the speaker of the House, who is elected by all 105 representatives. Other leadership positions include the speaker pro tempore (also elected by the entire chamber) and the majority leader (elected by the majority party caucus).
The minority party is headed by the minority leader, who is elected by the minority party caucus.
Compensation Constitutional Amendment 57 provides the methods for setting legislative compensation. Since 2021, representatives earn $51,734 per year. Representatives are also allotted $85 per day for single overnight stays or $100 per day for multiple overnight stays in order to accommodate lodging needs. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives earns an additional $18,000 per year.
No retirement benefits are available to representatives.
Legislative process House bills are referred to their committees of jurisdiction by the speaker. Bills can be introduced at any point in the legislative session.
The governor of Alabama has the authority to use a line-item veto on appropriations bills as long as they are returned to the legislature before its adjournment. In most circumstances, during the legislative session, the governor has six days to consider vetoing legislation before it automatically becomes law. If session has concluded, the governor has 10 days to consider legislation. Vetoes can be overturned by a simple majority vote in both chambers of the Alabama Legislature.
Legislative staffing State representatives are given year-round personal staff at the Capitol, as well as some staff who are shared between members. Representatives for select counties are entitled to shared district office staff. All committees have paid clerical staff, while only some committees have additional professional staff.
Committees Committee members and committee chairpersons are both assigned by the speaker.
There are currently 33 standing committees in the House. They are as follows:
Agriculture and Forestry Baldwin County Legislation Boards, Agencies and Commissions Children and Senior Advocacy Commerce and Small Business Constitution, Campaigns and Elections County and Municipal Government Economic Development and Tourism Education Policy Ethics and Campaign Finance Financial Services Fiscal Responsibility Health Insurance Jefferson County Legislation Judiciary Lee County Legislation Limestone County Legislation Local Legislation Madison County Legislation Military and Veterans Affairs Mobile County Legislation Montgomery County Legislation Public Safety and Homeland Security Rules Shelby County Legislation State Government Technology and Research Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure Tuscaloosa County Legislation
Composition AffiliationParty (Shading indicates majority caucus)TotalVacantRepublicanDemocratic2015-2018 session723310502019-2022 session77281050Begin 2023 legislative session77281050May 23, 2023271041June 30, 2023761032August 31, 2023751023October 24, 2023281032January 9, 2024761041January 23, 2024751032March 13, 2024 271023March 26, 2024 281032April 30, 2024761041October 1, 2024 291050February 17, 2025 751041April 15, 2025 741032June 15, 2025 731023June 27, 2025 721014July 31, 2025 711005August 26, 2025 721014September 30, 2025 731023October 28, 2025 741032January 13, 2026 751041February 3, 2026 761050Latest voting share
House leadership Position Name Party District Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter Republican 24th–Rainsville Speaker pro tempore Chris Pringle Republican 101st–Mobile Clerk of the House John Treadwell
Majority leadership Position Name Party District House majority leader Paul Lee Republican 86th–Dothan Majority leader vice Randall Shedd Republican 11th–Fairview Majority caucus vice-chair Wes Kitchens Republican 27th–Arab Majority caucus secretary/treasurer Debbie Wood Republican 38th–Valley
Minority leadership Position Name Party District Minority leader in the House of Representatives Anthony Daniels Democratic 53rd–Huntsville Minority caucus chair Christopher J. England Democratic 70th–Tuscaloosa Minority caucus vice-chair Barbara Drummond Democratic 103rd–Mobile Minority whips Adline Clarke Democratic 97th–Mobile Jeremy Gray Democratic 83rd–Opelika Tashina Morris Democratic 77th–Montgomery Minority caucus secretary/treasurer Kelvin Lawrence Democratic 69th–Hayneville
House roster