HB480 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Shane StringerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Mobile County; to provide for the qualifications of the sheriff; and to require completion of continuing education.

Summary

HB480 would set new qualifications for Mobile County's sheriff and require annual executive-level continuing education.

What This Bill Does

The bill applies only in Mobile County and establishes specific eligibility criteria for someone running for or being appointed as sheriff, including citizenship, county residency, voter registration status, education, age, prior sworn law enforcement experience, and no felony convictions. It also requires the sheriff to complete at least 12 hours per year of executive-level continuing education approved by recognized associations or programs. The changes take effect immediately after passage and governor approval (or becoming law).

Who It Affects

• Candidates for or current sheriffs in Mobile County must meet the new qualifications and participate in annual continuing education.
• Mobile County residents and voters, who will have a sheriff meeting stricter eligibility and ongoing training requirements.

Key Provisions

• Defines minimum qualifications for the Mobile County sheriff, including: United States citizenship, at least one year of Mobile County residency before qualifying, being an elector registered to vote in the county for at least one year before qualifying, a high school diploma or GED, age 25 or older, at least three years of prior service as a sworn law enforcement officer with arrest power, and no felony conviction in Alabama or a jurisdiction where it would be a felony in Alabama.
• Requires the sheriff to complete at least 12 hours per year of executive-level continuing education approved by the Alabama Sheriff’s Association, the National Sheriff’s Association, or another recognized program designed for law enforcement.
• Applicable only to Mobile County and effective immediately after passage and governor approval (or becoming law).

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

Subjects

Mobile County, sheriff, qualifications.