HB305 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Pickens County; to provide for a new court cost to pay for service of process by the sheriff of documents filed in the district and circuit courts in Pickens County; and to deposit the proceeds into the Pickens County Sheriff's Law Enforcement Fund.

Summary

HB305 creates a new $25 service-of-process fee in Pickens County for sheriff’s service of documents, with $5 to the circuit clerk’s Judicial Administration Fund and $20 to the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund, and exempts state and local governments from the fee.

What This Bill Does

The bill adds a $25 fee for personal service of process by the sheriff for documents in Pickens County district or circuit courts. The fee is collected with other court costs, and the money is split: $5 goes to the circuit clerk’s Judicial Administration Fund and $20 goes to the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund. The fee is in addition to existing costs and does not replace or reduce any other fees paid to the sheriff or the county jail. The State of Alabama and its political subdivisions are exempt from paying the fee, and the law takes effect a few months after it is passed and approved.

Who It Affects

• People or groups who file documents in Pickens County's district or circuit courts that require personal service by the sheriff will pay $25 per document.
• The Pickens County Sheriff’s Office will receive $20 of each collected fee to fund law enforcement activities.
• The Pickens County Circuit Clerk will receive $5 of each collected fee for the Judicial Administration Fund.
• State of Alabama, its political subdivisions, and their instrumentalities are exempt from paying the fee.

Key Provisions

• Imposes a service-of-process fee of $25 for sheriff-personal service of documents filed in Pickens County district or circuit courts.
• Distributes the collected fees: $5 to the circuit clerk’s Judicial Administration Fund and $20 to the Sheriff’s Law Enforcement Fund.
• Exempts the State of Alabama and its political subdivisions and instrumentalities from the fee.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s 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

Distribution of service of process fee, amend amounts to Sheriff's Fund and Judicial Administration Fund