HB74 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Appointments, made by the Governor, to be subject to confirmation by the Senate for certain agencies, Secs. 14-1-1.3, 22-50-16, 23-1-21, 40-2-41, 41-4-30, 41-27-2 am'd.

Summary

HB 74 would require Senate confirmation for the heads of several major Alabama state agencies (DOT, Medicaid, Mental Health, Revenue, Corrections, Finance, and the ASLEA) starting January 16, 2023.

What This Bill Does

The Governor would appoint these agency heads, but the Senate would have to confirm the appointment before they can take office. After confirmation, they would serve at the Governor's pleasure. The Governor would generally set their salaries. The bill also creates the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency as a Senate-confirmed position who would serve as Homeland Security Advisor, coordinating security programs (including immigration enforcement) and acting as the main liaison with the federal government, with some duties delegable to others.

Who It Affects

• Agency heads (Director of Transportation, Commissioners of Medicaid and Mental Health, Commissioner of Revenue, Commissioner/Director of Corrections, Director of Finance, and the Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency) who would be appointed by the Governor but must be confirmed by the Senate and would then serve at the Governor's pleasure, with salaries set by the Governor.
• The Alabama Senate as the new confirmation authority and oversight body for these top state appointments (and the associated expansion of Homeland Security duties through the ASLEA Secretary).

Key Provisions

• Starting January 16, 2023, the heads of the Department of Transportation, Medicaid Agency, Department of Mental Health, Department of Revenue, Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency, Department of Corrections, and the Department of Finance must be confirmed by the Senate after the Governor appoints them.
• The appointed heads shall serve at the pleasure of the Governor after Senate confirmation; the Governor may set their salaries in relation to cabinet-level pay.
• The Medicaid Agency Commissioner must be Senate-confirmed and will serve at the Governor's pleasure after confirmation.
• A new Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency is created, must be Senate-confirmed, and will serve as Homeland Security Advisor and chief coordinator for homeland security efforts, including immigration enforcement, with authority to delegate duties as needed.
• The act defines appointment and related duties for each position through amended sections 14-1-1.3, 22-50-16, 23-1-21, 40-2-41, 41-4-30, and 41-27-2, and adds the effective date and governing provisions.

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

Subjects

Agents and Agencies