SB278 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

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

SB 278 would let certain Alabama cities (12,000 to under 25,000 people) choose to keep the mayor in a smaller, less powerful role for making laws, while limiting the mayor's veto power when the mayor is voting on the council.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes cities with 12,000 to fewer than 25,000 residents to elect, by a majority vote of both the council and the mayor together, to continue operating as if they had under 12,000 residents for the mayor's legislative functions. If this option is chosen, the mayor's veto power is restricted while the mayor serves as a voting member of the council. The change would modify several Code sections (11-43-2, 11-43-3, 11-43-40, 11-45-4, 11-45-5) and includes a process tied to census timing, with a 30-day window after census release to decide or renew the arrangement, and the act becomes law after the governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• Cities or towns in Alabama with a population of 12,000 to less than 25,000 people, who may choose to adopt the arrangement described for mayoral legislative functions.
• Mayors and city councils in those qualifying cities, who would have the mayor serve as a voting member with restricted veto power if the arrangement is adopted.

Key Provisions

• Allows 12,000–<25,000 population cities to elect, by ordinance of both the council and the mayor, to continue operating as if under 12,000 for the mayor's legislative functions.
• If the arrangement is adopted, the mayor's veto power is restricted while the mayor is a voting member of the council.
• The option can be initiated or renewed within a 30-day window after the release of the decennial census, and may continue until the next census under the same process.
• Branches of the code (11-43-2, 11-43-3, 11-43-40, 11-45-4, 11-45-5) are amended to implement these changes, with the act becoming effective after the 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

Mayors