SB356 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Greg AlbrittonSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2021
Title: District attorneys, compensation further provided, Sec. 12-17-182 am'd.
Summary: SB356 changes district attorney pay in Alabama by setting existing DAs' starting salaries at $1,000 less than the highest circuit judge, starting new DAs at $140,000, and adding 7.5% increases after each term plus six-year service bonuses, while protecting current DAs from pay cuts.
What This Bill Does
For DAs serving on Oct 1, 2021, it fixes their initial annual pay at the highest circuit judge’s salary minus $1,000. New DAs appointed or elected after Oct 1, 2021 start at $140,000. All DAs would receive 7.5% increases after completing their first term, and again after their second and third terms. In addition, for every six full years of service as a full-time assistant attorney general or full-time assistant district attorney in any circuit, their base salary increases by the appropriate amount. Existing DAs’ compensation cannot be diminished by this act.

Who It Affects
Existing district attorneys serving on October 1, 2021: their starting salary is set to the highest paid circuit judge’s salary minus $1,000 and their pay cannot be diminished; they will be eligible for 7.5% increases after each term and for six-year service bonuses.
New district attorneys appointed or elected after October 1, 2021: they start at $140,000 and are eligible for the 7.5% increases after each term and for six-year service bonuses.

Key Provisions
Section 12-17-182(a)(1): existing DAs’ initial annual salary equals the highest circuit judge’s salary minus $1,000; DAs on Oct 1, 2021 are exempt from the new-initial-salary rule in subsection (b).
Section 12-17-182(a)(2): new DAs appointed or elected after Oct 1, 2021 receive an initial salary of $140,000.
Section 12-17-182(b)(2): DAs’ salaries increase by 7.5% after the first term, then after the second term, and after the third term.
Section 12-17-182(b)(3): an additional base-salary increase for every six full years of service as a full-time AAG or full-time ADA in any circuit.
Section 12-17-182(c): compensation for DAs serving on Oct 1, 2021 may not be diminished; the act takes effect Oct 1, 2021.
Section 1 repeals conflicting laws and clarifies that only state-treasury pay is affected.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: District Attorneys