Rep. Ron Bolton

Maddy summaryHR 362 is a procedural resolution that formally designates Representative Mike Kirkland as the recipient of the 2026 Shroud Award. This award is a satirical honor given to the member who introduced the most controversial or poorly received legislation in the current session, in this case HB 583, the Alabama Work Zone Safety Act. The bill does not create any new laws or policy changes; instead, it serves as a ceremonial recognition of the legislative history and debate surrounding the work zone safety bill.

Maddy summaryHB 514 increases the annual compensation for the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff by $36,000 starting June 1, 2026. This additional expense allowance, paid monthly from the county general fund, is in addition to all existing pay and counts toward retirement contributions. The change applies only until the next vacancy in the sheriff's office, after which the provision expires. The bill directly affects the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff and their retirement benefits, with no broader policy implications.

Maddy summaryHB 385 allows Tuscaloosa County's Tax Assessor and Tax Collector to create electronic filing procedures for business personal property tax returns. It requires certain businesses - those leasing property, owning $10,000+ in personal property assets, or using professional tax preparers - to file electronically starting October 1, 2026. The bill mandates that electronic returns include the same information as paper forms and follow existing electronic filing standards. It also requires the county to provide training and grant temporary exemptions for good cause.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryThis bill is a commendation resolution honoring the Tuscaloosa County High School Boys Basketball team for winning the 2026 Alabama High School Athletic Association 7A State Championship. The resolution formally recognizes the team's victory over the defending champion Hoover Buccaneers and acknowledges the contributions of players, coaches, and the broader community. It does not change laws or policies but serves as an official tribute to the team's achievement, which marks their first state title since 1960.

Maddy summaryHB 159 allows circuit clerks in Alabama who independently qualify for both a supernumerary program and the Employees' Retirement System to participate in both, provided they use separate work periods for each. Currently, state law prevents circuit clerks from using the same service years for both programs. The bill amends retirement law to permit dual participation when service years are distinct. It will take effect on July 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill expands the legal definition of criminal defendants with mental illnesses to include individuals who are found incompetent to stand trial and cannot be restored to competency. It limits how long the Department of Mental Health can provide custody, care, and treatment for these individuals to the maximum possible prison sentence they could receive for the charged crime, with exceptions for capital murder cases or when civil commitment criteria are still met. The legislation also includes technical updates to align the code language with current style conventions. These changes directly affect the state's mental health system and the judicial process for handling mentally ill defendants in Alabama.

Maddy summaryHB 505 creates a new right for both criminal defendants with mental illness and Alabama's Department of Mental Health to appeal court orders that commit defendants to mental health custody or modify their conditional release terms. The bill specifically allows appeals of these orders to the Court of Criminal Appeals, which previously lacked jurisdiction for such cases. This change applies to existing procedures for defendants found to pose a "real and present threat of substantial harm" due to mental illness, as determined under current law. The bill does not alter the standards for commitment or release but adds a formal appellate process for these specific court decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 160 amends Alabama laws to update overtime rules for public safety employees in Tuscaloosa County. It requires law enforcement officers (including those in Northport and Tuscaloosa police departments) and firefighters to receive 1.5 times their regular pay or compensatory time off for hours worked beyond 8 hours in a day, 40 hours in a week, or 24 hours in a fire protection tour. The bill specifically allows Northport and Tuscaloosa to implement a four 10-hour shift schedule, triggering overtime rules for those assigned to such schedules. It excludes the City of Tuscaloosa’s Executive Director of Public Safety from all overtime benefits under these provisions. The changes apply only to Tuscaloosa County public safety staff and take effect October 1, 2026.