Fair Campaign Practices Act
Alabama · Elections · §§ 17-5-1 to 17-5-9 · 35 sections
Overview
The act governs campaign finance disclosure and political advertising, requiring candidates, political committees, and incidental committees to organize formally — registering, designating a treasurer and depository, and keeping records — and to report their contributions and expenditures on a recurring basis, with expedited special reports for independent expenditures, late contributions, and certain advertising. It creates a public disclosure commission empowered to adopt rules, issue subpoenas, adjust contribution limits and reporting thresholds, and suspend or modify reporting obligations in appropriate cases, with the attorney general assigned a supporting enforcement role. It also makes the filed statements public records subject to electronic filing and accessibility requirements, and imposes content rules on political advertising, including sponsor identification and restrictions on the use of a candidate's likeness.
Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.
In the courts
Sections of this act have been cited in 7 court decisions.
Most-cited authority: 838 F.3d 1057 - Alabama Democratic Conference v. Attorney General of Alabama
Sections covered
- Ala. Code § 17-5-1Short Title.2 cites
- Ala. Code § 17-5-10Public Inspection of Reports; Date of Receipt.1 cite
- Ala. Code § 17-5-11Duties of Secretary of State.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-12Identification of Paid Advertisements.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-13Cards, Pamphlets, Circulars, Etc., to Bear Name of Candidate, Committee, Etc.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-14Corporate Contributions or Expenditures to Political Action Committees; Establishment by Corporation; Actions by Utilities.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-14.1Establishment of Segregated, Separate Political Funds; Voluntary Contributions; Filing of Disclosure Reports; Violations.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-15Contributions by One Person in Name of Another; Contributions Between Political Action Committees, Etc.1 cite
- Ala. Code § 17-5-15.1(Amended by Act 2026-266) Limitation on Receipt and Spending of Funds by Principal Campaign Committee of a State or Local Candidate.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-15.2Elections › The Fair Campaign Practices Act
- Ala. Code § 17-5-16Fraudulent Misrepresentation as Acting for Candidate, Etc., Prohibited; Automated or Pre-recorded Communications.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-16.1Distribution of Materially Deceptive Media to Influence an Upcoming Election.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-17Solicitation by Force, Job Discrimination, Threats, Etc., Prohibited.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-18Failure to File Required Statement or Report.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-19Violations.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-19.1Civil Penalties.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-19.2Administrative Review.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-2Definitions.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-20Appointment of Designated Filing Agents; Submission of Reports.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-21Administrative Rules.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-3Political Action Committees; Officers; Accounting and Reporting.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-4Filing Statement to Show Principal Campaign Committee; Duties and Procedures; Dissolution.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-4.1Exemption of Candidates for Municipal Office from Certain Filing Requirements.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-5Statement of Organization; Notice of Termination or Dissolution.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-5.1Regulation of Legislative Caucus Organizations.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-6Checking Account; Expenditures.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-7Use of Excess Moneys Received; Solicitation, Etc., of Contributions.2 cites
- Ala. Code § 17-5-7.1Return or Refund of Contributions.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-7.2Disposal of Campaign Property.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-7.3Elections › The Fair Campaign Practices Act
- Ala. Code § 17-5-7.4Elections › The Fair Campaign Practices Act
- Ala. Code § 17-5-8Electronic Filings; Reports of Contributions and Expenditures; Filing Requirements.1 cite
- Ala. Code § 17-5-8.1Electronic Reporting; Electronic Searchable Database; Rules.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-8.2Legislative Findings.
- Ala. Code § 17-5-9Filing Procedures.
Enacted in other states
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