HB468 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Corey Harbison
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: Relating to the Town of Garden City in Cullman County; to amend Section 45-22-100.07 of the Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the town council to sell a portion of the former Garden City school property without a referendum.
Summary: HB468 lets Garden City sell a specific portion of the former Garden City school property without a referendum, while giving the town broad rights to own, manage, fundraise for, and protect the site.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends the law to allow Garden City to own, operate, manage, and preserve the former school property and its facilities, with immunity from civil liability for actions taken in managing the property. It authorizes the town to accept title to the property from the Cullman County Board of Education and hold it for public use, and to receive government funding and charitable donations for its operation. Generally, selling property still requires a majority vote by the town council and a majority vote by qualified electors in a referendum, but the bill creates a carve-out that allows the council to sell a specific 7.2-acre portion without a referendum. The act becomes effective immediately after passage and the governor's approval.

Who It Affects
Residents and the public of Garden City, as the town may change ownership or use of the former school site and could benefit from funding or other public uses, while also being subject to the sale carve-out for a portion of the property.
Town of Garden City government officials (city council and related officers), who gain authority to own, manage, fundraise for, and potentially sell parts of the property without a referendum (for the specified portion), along with liability protections for actions related to the property.

Key Provisions
The governing body may own, operate, manage, and preserve the former Garden City school property and related structures, with civil liability immunity for actions taken in the course of managing the property.
The town may accept title to the former school property from the Cullman County Board of Education and hold it for public use; it may receive state/local funding and charitable donations to operate and preserve the property.
In general, sale or transfer of the property requires a majority vote by the governing body and then a majority vote of the qualified electors in a referendum.
Notwithstanding the general rule, the governing body may, by a majority vote, sell a specified portion of the property without a referendum (described as 7.2 acres with specific lot/block details).
The act becomes effective immediately following its 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: Cullman Co., Garden City, former school property, authorized to sell a portion without referendum