HB 383 requires all new employees hired under Tuscaloosa County's civil service system to complete a 12-month probationary period before becoming permanent. It also allows the county's Civil Service Board to establish rules for hiring part-time employees to support efficient county operations. The bill repeals an outdated section (Section 9 of Act 49-357) related to temporary employees. This legislation directly affects county employees and hiring practices, taking effect on October 1, 2026.
HB 384 amends Tuscaloosa County's fee structure for personal delivery of court documents (service of process) by the sheriff's office. It sets a $60 fee per document for local civil cases (with $3 retained by the circuit clerk's office), and an $85 fee for out-of-state service requests. Fifty percent of the net fee collected goes to the sheriff's office, and the remaining 50% to the district attorney's office for operational costs. The bill makes technical updates to the existing law's language without changing fee amounts or coverage, effective June 1, 2026. It directly affects Tuscaloosa County residents and legal professionals handling civil court cases requiring personal service.
HB 430 authorizes the Montgomery County Judge of Probate to hold fundraising events like rodeos and use the proceeds for any lawful purpose related to their office operations. It directly affects Montgomery County's probate court, allowing the judge to generate revenue for administrative needs. The bill retroactively ratifies past fundraising activities conducted in compliance with this law and declares the measure "remedial and curative." The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
HB 451 authorizes Montgomery County's Judge of Probate to establish procedures for using credit cards to purchase tangible goods or approved services for the Probate Court. It requires the Judge of Probate to create written policies including spending limits per transaction and monthly, secure access controls, detailed record-keeping, and monthly bill reviews to prevent unauthorized charges or fees. Any rewards or rebates earned from credit card use must be deposited into the Judge of Probate Fund. This bill directly affects Montgomery County's probate court operations, allowing streamlined purchasing while implementing strict financial safeguards. The bill became effective immediately upon enactment.
SB 241 authorizes Walker County's elected probate judge to appoint temporary lawyers from the county to handle probate court duties during periods of high caseloads, complex cases, or scheduling delays. Temporary judges can serve up to 90 days per appointment (with a yearly maximum of 200 days) and have full authority to make decisions that are legally binding like those of the elected judge. The bill specifies they must be paid $50 per hearing from the judge's discretionary funds, with no additional pay if they are already court employees. It also clarifies that the elected judge and their bond are not liable for actions taken by temporary judges during their service.
HB 413 requires Tuscaloosa County to provide the same annual longevity pay (based on years of service) to its Sheriff, Tax Assessor, and Tax Collector as all other full-time regular county employees. Starting June 1, 2026, the County Commission must set the exact amount and payment date for these officials, with payments funded from the county general fund. This bill directly affects these three specific county elected positions by aligning their compensation structure with other county staff.
HB 426, the Alabama Property Protection Act of 2026, creates new rules to prevent title fraud in real estate transactions. It requires real estate agents, online platforms, and title professionals to verify property ownership before listings or transfers, prohibits remote notarization for property deeds in certain cases, and establishes a recovery fund for victims. The bill upgrades fraudulent property sales to a Class D felony and creates a new aggravated fraud offense classified as a Class C felony. It also sets up an expedited process for victims to reclaim property and recover legal costs through the Alabama Securities Commission.
HB 405 creates a new offense called "bail jumping in the third degree" for individuals released from custody (with or without bail) who violate court-ordered electronic monitoring conditions. This bill directly affects people under electronic monitoring as a release condition, making such violations a Class C misdemeanor punishable by law. Key provisions include defining the offense, setting penalties, and allowing a defense for unintentional violations due to circumstances beyond the defendant's control (though the defendant must prove this). The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, if passed.
SB 324 authorizes Tallapoosa County's Judge of Probate to charge a fee for remote digital access to court records (like property deeds or marriage licenses). The fee, collected from users, must be deposited into a special fund to maintain and improve the county's record-keeping systems and remote access services. The bill also retroactively confirms that any similar fees collected before this law took effect were valid. This applies only to Tallapoosa County and becomes effective June 1, 2026.
HB 521 updates Alabama's election administration rules for county board of registrars. It requires all registrar candidates to undergo criminal background checks (including fingerprinting), increases their daily pay rate to $115, and mandates state payment for registrars during county/state/federal emergencies or holiday closures when courthouses are shut. The bill also specifies that registrars must be treated as state employees for accessing emergency relief funds (like pandemic or disaster aid) and clarifies their qualification standards (e.g., high school diploma, computer skills). These changes directly affect county election officials, county commissions managing payroll, and the state treasury funding these positions.
HB 522 changes Cullman County's commission meeting schedule and structure. It requires the county commission to hold at least one meeting each month after 6:00 p.m. to improve public access, while also restructuring the commission from three members to a chair plus four associate commissioners elected by district. The bill specifies that associate commissioners must live in their districts, with staggered terms (two-year initial terms for two districts), and the chair serves full-time while associate members serve part-time. This affects all Cullman County residents who attend meetings or vote for county commissioners, effective October 1, 2026.
HB 429 prohibits operating drones (unmanned aircraft systems) near ticketed entertainment events, including middle and high school sports events. The bill creates a new criminal offense for violating this ban, directly affecting drone operators who fly near such venues. Key provisions expand the existing prohibition to explicitly cover school athletic events, which were previously excluded. The bill is currently pending committee review in the House of Origin and has not yet become law.
