HB26 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Corey Harbison
Republican
Session: First Special Session 2015
Title: Cullman Co., co. commission, composition, chair, add commissioner, election from districts, compensation
Summary: HB26 reorganizes Cullman County's Commission to have a countywide chair and four district-based associates, with new districting, salaries, and travel rules.
What This Bill Does
After the 2016 general election, the Cullman County Commission would have a chair elected countywide and four associate commissioners elected from single-member districts. The chair would be full-time and earn $65,000 per year; associates would serve part-time and earn $20,000 per year, with travel expenses reimbursed. The county must create four districts with roughly equal population, reapportion them after each federal census, and two existing associates would continue until their terms end while two more associates are added in 2016 (and every four years thereafter). The act sets these salaries as the sole compensation for the chair and associates and requires detailed expense accounting for travel within the county; it becomes effective after governor approval and repeals conflicting laws.

Who It Affects
Cullman County residents and voters: they will elect a chair countywide and four district-based associates starting in 2016, with districts drawn to be population-balanced and reapportioned after each federal census.
Current and future Cullman County officials (the chair and associates): two current associate commissioners continue until their terms end, two new associates elected in 2016 (and every four years thereafter), with new associates earning $20,000 per year and travel reimbursements; the chair earns $65,000 per year and serves full-time.

Key Provisions
Section 1: Establishes a four-district structure for associate commissioners and a chair elected countywide, effective after the 2016 general election.
Chair: elected in 2016, serves a four-year term, full-time, salary $65,000 per year.
Associate commissioners: two existing associates continue until their terms end; two more elected in 2016 (and every four years thereafter); associates elected after the act’s effective date serve part-time and earn $20,000 per year.
Districts: county divided into four districts with population balance; districts reapportioned after each decennial census; probate judge may draw district boundaries if 2016 boundaries are not in place in time for the 2016 election.
Compensation and expenses: salary and expense allowances provided by the act are the sole compensation for the chair and associates, with travel outside the county or official county business still subject to existing rules; detailed expense accounting required for within-county travel reimbursements.
Section 2: Repeals conflicting laws.
Section 3: Becomes effective immediately after governor signs it.

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