The bill, applicable exclusively to Mobile County, Alabama, outlines new qualifications for individuals seeking election or appointment to the office of sheriff, effective from June 1, 2024. The bill stipulates that candidates must be U.S. citizens, residents of Mobile County for at least one year prior to qualifying, registered voters in the county for at least one year, possess a high school diploma or GED equivalent, be 25 years of age or older, have at least five years of prior service as a sworn law enforcement officer with arrest powers, and have no felony convictions. Additionally, the bill prefers candidates to hold an associate degree or, more favorably, a bachelor's degree.

The bill also mandates that upon election or appointment, the sheriff must complete a minimum of 12 hours of executive-level continuing education annually. This education must be approved by the Alabama Sheriffs Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, or any other recognized executive-level law enforcement continuing education program. The bill, designated as SB268, is set to become effective on June 1, 2024, and has been enrolled and passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of Alabama, with amendments concurred on April 30, 2024.