HB486 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Randall Shedd
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Cullman Co., county commission, increase membership, two add'l associate commissioners, compensation, county unit system for roads, further provided for, Act 469, 1977 Reg. Sess., am'd; Sec. 45-22-71 am'd.
Summary: HB486 would expand Cullman County's county commission from three to five members (a chair and four associate commissioners from four districts), restructure road management as a county-wide unit, and set salaries and term rules for the new setup.
What This Bill Does
It creates four districts and adds four associate commissioners elected at large, starting with the term that begins in November 2022. The county roads will be operated on a county-wide unit basis under a county engineer who handles day-to-day operations and reports to the chair. The chair remains full-time and may vote only to break ties; associates serve part-time with four-year terms (initial terms for Districts 3 and 4 are two years, then four years for all thereafter). Beginning November 2020, the commission must hold at least one meeting after 6:00 p.m. each month. It also sets salaries: associate commissioners will earn $25,000 per year starting with the next term, with health insurance available to them, and the chair's salary remains as currently provided; the act repeals a prior provision related to associate commissioners.

Who It Affects
Cullman County voters/residents: will elect a chair and four associate commissioners from four districts and participate in a county-wide approach to road planning and governance; public meetings are encouraged by the new meeting time requirement.
County government officials and staff (including current commissioners, the county engineer, and the road department): will adopt a new five-member structure, new district-based associate positions, updated compensation and benefits, and a unit-based system for road work overseen by the county engineer.

Key Provisions
Amends Act 469 (1977) to create a chair plus four associate commissioners elected at large from four districts (Districts 1-4) starting with the November 2022 term.
Initial terms: associates from Districts 3 and 4 serve two years; associates from Districts 1 and 2 serve four years; thereafter all associate terms are four years; the chair serves a four-year term and is full-time; chair may not vote except to break ties; associates serve part-time.
Section 2 defines the four districts geographically (District One to Four).
County roads and bridges are to be operated on a county-wide unit basis under the supervision of an engineer; the engineer handles day-to-day operations and reports to the chair.
Section 3 sets salaries: associate commissioners earn $25,000 per year starting with the next term; current associates elected before the change may keep their existing salary if reelected; the chair’s salary remains as previously provided; associates and chair may participate in the county health insurance program without cost to the member.
Section 4 repeals Section 45-22-70 (related to associate county commissioners).
Section 5 makes the act effective immediately upon passage.

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