Alabama Special Session Pushes Redistricting Bills as AG Seeks Injunction Relief

*TL;DR: Alabama’s special session moved two redistricting bills out of committee and the attorney general filed emergency motions to undo court blocks on the state’s congressional and Senate maps.*

Context Governor Kay Ivey called a special session to address new primary elections for districts whose boundaries were altered by court‑drawn maps. The session follows a Supreme Court ruling that sharply limited the use of race in drawing districts, a decision that could affect Alabama’s own map challenges.

Key Facts - On the second day of the session, House Bill 1 (HB1) and Senate Bill 1 (SB1) cleared their initial committees. HB1 would trigger a special primary in U.S. House districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 if a federal court lifts the injunction on the 2023 congressional map too late for the 2026 regular primary. SB1 contains parallel language for state Senate districts 25 and 26, contingent on a court lifting the injunction on the 2021 Senate map. - Rep. Terri Sewell argued that “our democracy is a democracy because everyone should have a seat at the table,” emphasizing the need for fair representation. - Attorney General Steve Marshall filed an emergency motion in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama seeking to lift the injunction that preserves the court‑drawn congressional map. He also filed a separate emergency motion with the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals to remove the injunction on the 2021 Senate map. - Protesters, including members of the state Democratic delegation, gathered outside the Capitol while lawmakers debated the bills. House Pro‑Tem Chris Pringle, sponsor of HB1, said the legislation prepares for a scenario where a court overturns the current injunction.

What It Means If the courts grant Marshall’s motions, the legislature could use its previously approved maps and the special‑election provisions in HB1 and SB1 would come into effect. That would reshape the timing and possibly the composition of Alabama’s congressional and Senate races ahead of the 2026 cycle. Conversely, if the injunctions remain, the special‑election triggers stay dormant and the current court‑drawn maps persist.

Looking Ahead Watch for rulings on the attorney general’s emergency motions and any court decisions on the injunctions, which will determine whether the special‑election bills become operative.