HB287 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Yvonne Kennedy
Democrat
Co-Sponsor: James E. Buskey
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Mobile Co., county commission to provide for the number and districts for election of members, initial districts to be same as Board of School Commissioners, Act 181, 1957 Reg. Sess. repealed
Summary: HB287 would change Mobile County’s government to five district-based, part-time commissioners and require a public vote to activate the change, with initial districts matching the Mobile County School Board’s districts.
What This Bill Does
It creates five single-member districts for the County Commission, with initial districts set to match the School Board’s districts on the act’s effective date and future districts aligned with the School Board unless the Commission reapportions. It requires commissioners to be residents of their district for at least 90 days before running and while serving. A referendum is required to activate the change; if a majority votes Yes, the new structure takes effect (and related provisions become operative); if No, the act is repealed. The act also repeals the older Act 181 from 1957 and sets rules for timing and administration of the referendum.

Who It Affects
Mobile County voters and residents who would vote in the referendum and in elections for five district-based county commissioners.
Current and prospective Mobile County Commissioners and district residents, who must meet the residency requirement and will be governed by the new district-based system and reapportionment process.

Key Provisions
Five members of the Mobile County Commission will be elected from single-member districts, with initial districts the same as the Mobile County Board of School Commissioners' districts on the act’s effective date; future districts mirror the School Board unless reapportioned by the Commission.
A referendum will be held to approve or reject the change; if majority Yes, Sections 1 and 2 become operative immediately; if majority No, the act is repealed and has no effect. The act also repeals Act 181, 1957, and sets conditions for the referendum and its timing.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Mobile County