The bill amends Sections 11-2A-1, 11-2A-2, and 11-2A-4 of the Code of Alabama 1975, which govern the compensation of local officials such as county commissioners, judges of probate, sheriffs, and tax assessors. Key changes include the insertion of language that bases annual compensation on county population categories as determined by the 1990 federal decennial census, and establishes that the annual base compensation will be set according to the amount paid to the officeholder on May 31, 2026. The bill also repeals Sections 11-2A-3, 11-2A-6, 11-2A-7, and 11-2A-8, which previously outlined compensation structures for these officials, aiming to streamline and modernize the compensation framework.

Additionally, the bill modifies the compensation structure to ensure uniform increases for local officials, removing the exemption for "Category 1" counties and aligning their increases with those of full-time county employees. It specifies that the base compensation for any local official elected or appointed after July 1, 2025, will be based on the previous officeholder's compensation, excluding longevity or merit-based pay. The bill also clarifies that local officials linked to state officials will not receive uniform increases, and any conflicting local laws prior to the 2026 Regular Session will be invalidated upon the current officeholder's departure. The effective date for these changes is set for June 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 11-2A-1, 11-2A-2, 11-2A-4
Engrossed: 11-2A-1, 11-2A-2, 11-2A-4
Enrolled: 11-2A-1, 11-2A-2, 11-2A-4