HB66 Alabama 2018 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim HillRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2018
Title: Mayors, legislative functions in cities/towns with 12,000 or more but less than 25,000 inhabitants, authorized to continue operating as a city or town with less than 12,000 inhabitants by majority vote of council and mayor under certain conditions, veto power restricted, Secs. 11-43-2, 11-43-3, 11-43-40, 11-45-4, 11-45-5 am'd.
Summary: HB 66 lets Alabama cities with 12,000–24,999 residents choose to keep the mayor’s legislative role (presiding and voting) instead of only having veto power, under certain conditions.
What This Bill Does
It allows eligible cities to elect by ordinance—approved by a majority of both the city council and the mayor—to continue operating as if they had fewer than 12,000 residents for the mayor's legislative functions. It also restricts the mayor’s veto power while the mayor is a voting member of the council. A 30-day window after the decennial census allows the city to adopt the ordinance and maintain the arrangement until the next census. The bill changes several sections of the Alabama Code to put this option into effect.

Who It Affects
Cities or towns in Alabama with 12,000–24,999 residents (per the latest census) that choose to exercise the option to retain the mayor's legislative role.
Mayors and city councils in those cities, who would vote on the qualifying ordinance and face restricted veto power when the mayor is a voting member of the council.

Key Provisions
Eligible cities (12,000–24,999 population) may elect, by ordinance with a majority vote of both the council and the mayor, to continue operating as if they had fewer than 12,000 residents for the mayor's legislative functions.
If such an option is in effect and the mayor serves as a voting member, the mayor’s veto power is restricted and the mayor’s signature cannot affect the validity of ordinances or resolutions passed by the council.
There is a 30-day window after the release of the federal decennial census during which the city may adopt the ordinance to maintain this arrangement until the next census.
The act amends Sections 11-43-2, 11-43-3, 11-43-40, 11-45-4, and 11-45-5 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to implement the option and related governance changes.

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