HB380 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David FaulknerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Municipality, council-manager form of gov., council-manager act of 1982, composition of council, alternate forms, Sec. 11-43A-8 am'd.

Summary

HB380 lets Alabama municipalities choose different council sizes and election formats under the council-manager system instead of being stuck with a fixed five-member council.

What This Bill Does

It allows municipalities using the standard council-manager form to have a five- or seven-member council, with a mayor elected at large and four or six council members elected either at large or from districts. It also creates an alternate nine-member form for Class 6 cities, with a mayor at large and eight council members from four dual-member districts, and lets the city decide which form to use by resolution. The change requires a council resolution at least six months before qualifying for elections and sets when the first and subsequent councils take office; if the alternate form is chosen, ballots are prepared by the judge of probate. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the governor signs it.

Who It Affects

• Municipalities operating under the Council-Manager Act of 1982 can change council size and how members are elected (at large or by districts).
• Class 6 cities can choose either to keep the five/seven-member form or adopt the nine-member alternate form with four dual-member districts.
• Voters in these municipalities will see changes in who can run and how they vote for mayor and council members based on the chosen form.
• Election officials, including the judge of probate, are involved in implementing the changes (e.g., preparing ballots for adopting the alternate form).

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 11-43A-8 to authorize five- or seven-member councils for the standard form, with a mayor elected at large and four or six council members elected either at large or from single-member districts.
• Requires a resolution at least six months before the qualifying date for municipal elections to elect the five- or seven-member form.
• For Class 6 cities, allows an alternate form with a nine-member council (one mayor elected at large; eight members elected from four dual-member districts); includes procedures for ballot preparation and initial council qualification dates.
• Establishes the initial and subsequent council election timing and states the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after the governor's approval.

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

Subjects

Municipalities