HB496 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Lynn Greer

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Lauderdale Co., county commission chair, salary increased, Sec. 45-39-70 am'd.

Summary

HB496 changes how Lauderdale County's Commission Chair is chosen, raises and caps the chair's pay, and makes retroactive pay adjustments dating to 2016.

What This Bill Does

It shifts the chair election to a countywide vote and synchronizes the chair's term with the commission members, with the judge of probate no longer serving as chair after the first such chair is elected. It sets a base salary of $40,000 per year, with future terms allowed to raise the salary up to $50,000 per year, and may provide an expense allowance so total compensation stays under $50,000 annually; any expense allowance would convert to salary in the next term. It assigns duties for economic development, intergovernmental partnerships, and representing the county on boards, plus other tasks as decided by the majority of the county commission. It also retroactively ratifies any chair salary increases paid before the act’s effective date back to November 18, 2016, and becomes effective immediately after passage and approval by the Governor.

Who It Affects

• Lauderdale County Commission Chair and future chairs — subject to the new countywide election, term alignment, salary and potential expense allowance, and specified duties.
• Lauderdale County residents/taxpayers — may be financially affected by higher government costs due to salary/allowance changes and retroactive pay adjustments.

Key Provisions

• The Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission becomes elected on a countywide basis, takes office with the other commissioners, serves a four-year term, and presides over meetings with a vote only to break ties; the judge of probate will no longer serve as chair after the first chair under this system.
• The Chair's base salary is $40,000 per year, with the Commission allowed to raise it to up to $50,000 per year for future terms; an expense allowance may be provided so total compensation does not exceed $50,000 per year, and any such allowance converts to salary in the next term.
• The Chair has duties including promoting economic development, establishing intergovernmental partnerships, representing the county on boards and committees, and performing other duties as decided by a majority vote of the county commission.
• Any chair salary increases or increases paid before the act’s effective date are ratified and retroactively validated to November 18, 2016.
• The act becomes effective immediately after passage and approval by the Governor.

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

Subjects

Lauderdale County