HB180 Alabama 2010 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Alan Harper
Republican
Co-Sponsors: William “Bill” M. Beasley William E. Thigpen
Session: Regular Session 2010
Title: Water and sewer services, municipal corporation boards of directors, and municipal and county boards of directors of water, sewer, and fire protection authorities, compensation increased, Prichard excepted, Secs. 11-50-15, 11-50-313, 11-88-6 am'd.
Summary: HB180 allows and sets maximum pay for directors and chairs of Alabama municipal water/sewer and related authorities, with detailed, population-based and system-based pay caps and specific city exclusions.
What This Bill Does
The bill lets boards pay directors’ and chairs’ fees in lieu of the statutory fees, but only within specified per-meeting and annual limits that depend on the number of utility systems owned and the population size of the area. It explicitly forbids fees for sanitary sewer system services in certain contexts and provides reimbursement for actual expenses. It also establishes how many directors can sit on a board (ranging from 3 to 7 in some cases), sets term structures, and includes several city-specific exclusions (e.g., Montgomery, Prichard, Birmingham, Cullman, Mobile) where these changes do not apply. Additionally, it updates sections governing municipal and county authorities to align compensation with the new limits and outlines rules for when and how new directors may be added or terms staggered.

Who It Affects
Municipal and county governments that run water, sewer, and fire protection services and their boards, because the bill changes how board members can be compensated and how boards are structured.
Directors and chairs of those boards (including municipal officers who may serve as directors), because their pay, meeting reimbursements, and eligibility terms are defined or adjusted.

Key Provisions
Boards may compensate directors and chairs for services, with per-meeting and annual caps that vary by the number of systems and by service area population.
No director’s fee is paid for sanitary sewer system-only services; when multiple utility systems exist (water, gas, electric), the chair’s and other directors’ fees have specific maximum amounts per meeting and per year.
Caps are tiered by population and by city-specific provisions; certain cities (e.g., Birmingham, Montgomery, Prichard, Cullman, Mobile) have special or non-applicable provisions as noted in the act.
Boards may be expanded from three to five or seven members in certain municipalities or authorities, with staggered terms and initialization rules for new members.
Directors shall be reimbursed for actual expenses related to performing duties, and officers of the municipality may also serve as directors with limits on total officer representation on the board.
Eligibility and term rules require directors to be qualified electors, residents, and property owners in the service area, with terms and reelection provisions and vacancy procedures.
The act provides for specific, population-based pay structures for various counties and regions (e.g., Jefferson County, Franklin County, and other population bands) and sets monthly or yearly limits where applicable.
Certain sections make explicit that these compensation changes do not apply to specified cities or authorities, preserving existing arrangements in those locales.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Water, Sewer, and Fire Protection Authorities