Escambia County, qualifications of the sheriff further provided for

HB 573 updates the qualifications for individuals seeking to become the Sheriff of Escambia County, effective June 1, 2025. It requires candidates to be U.S. citizens, county residents and registered voters for at least one year, and possess a high school diploma or GED, and be at least 25 years old. The bill also modifies the law enforcement experience requirement, mandating three years of full-time service and specifying that if a candidate has retired, they must have three years of post-retirement full-time law enforcement experience. Additionally, an elected sheriff must annually complete 12 hours of executive-level continuing education.