MONTGOMERY — State House flooding and fire alarms on Wednesday ended a Democrat filibuster on legislation to give Alabama the option to call a special election for two Montgomery-area State Senate districts later this year.  

After about an hour and thirty minutes of discussion mostly by Democrats opposing the legislation, a fire alarm went off around 5:30 p.m. due to the first floor of the State House flooding with about four feet of water inside the building. The Montgomery area had been under a Tornado warning for about two hours and had received heavy rain. The Legislature is expected to move next year into a new State House currently under construction. 

Legislators, staffers, media, lobbyists and the public had to exit the building by stairs instead of elevators due to electrical concerns.

The bill passed along party lines with Republicans in support and Democrats opposing. Shortly after final passage, the Senate adjourned and evacuated. 

The bill by State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) would authorize a new special primary election to be held if a federal court issues an order or vacates an injunction thereby allowing the legislature to use a previously enacted legislative State Senate redistricting plan in the 2026 general election, and the court ruling is made at a time that is too late to be accommodated during the normal primary election schedule but would allow a new special primary election to be held in a manner that does not affect the 2026 General Election date set in November 2026. 

U.S. District Judge Anna Manasco issued an order in November concurring with left-wing plaintiffs suing the state, who claimed that State Senate Districts 25 and 26 held by State Sens. Will Barfoot (R-Pike Road) and Kirk Hatcher (D-Montgomery) violated Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Manasco ordered a special master to redraw Alabama's State Senate map for the 2026 election.

The bill by Elliott would require the governor to call a special primary election for the affected State Senate districts if the special primary election can be held within a specified time frame without violating certain laws, and would authorize the Governor to modify certain state law deadlines regarding elections. 

According to a fiscal note, the bill would cost an estimated $600,000 over fiscal years 2026 and 2027 to reimburse affected counties for election expenses incurred in Senate Districts 25 and 26 if a special election is called pursuant to the provisions of this bill. 

The bill now goes to the House for their consideration.

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