HB459 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Debbie Wood
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Chambers Co., sheriffs, additional qualifications, continuing education
Summary: HB459 tightens entry requirements and requires ongoing education for Chambers County sheriffs.
What This Bill Does
The bill applies only to Chambers County and sets new minimum qualifications for anyone qualifying to be sheriff or serving as sheriff there, including citizenship, county residency for at least one year, active voter registration in the county for at least one year, a high school diploma or GED, age 25 or older, at least three years of full-time law enforcement experience with arrest powers, and no felony conviction. It also requires the sheriff, after election, to complete at least 12 hours per year of executive-level continuing education approved by the Alabama Sheriffs Association or the National Sheriffs' Association. The act does not apply to a supernumerary sheriff and becomes effective immediately after passage.

Who It Affects
People running for the office of sheriff in Chambers County must meet the new qualifications listed (citizenship, residency, voter status, education, age, law enforcement experience, and no felony).
Sheriffs serving in Chambers County (upon election) must complete a minimum of 12 hours of executive-level continuing education each year; the requirement also applies to those newly elected or appointed, with an exemption for supernumerary sheriffs.

Key Provisions
Section 1: The act applies only to Chambers County.
Section 2(a): Sets minimum qualifications for anyone qualifying for election to sheriff in the county or serving as sheriff: U.S. citizenship, at least one year of county residency before qualification, elector status and county voter registration for at least one year, high school diploma or GED, age 25+, at least three years of full-time law enforcement with arrest power, and no felony conviction.
Section 2(b): Requires the sheriff to complete at least 12 hours of annual executive-level continuing education approved by the Alabama Sheriffs Association or National Sheriffs' Association, starting after election.
Section 3: Excludes supernumerary sheriffs from the act.
Section 4: Becomes effective immediately after approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Sheriffs