SB133 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tim MelsonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to Lauderdale County; to amend Section 45-39-70, Code of Alabama 1975, to increase the salary of the Chair of the Lauderdale County Commission; to provide retroactive application; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Summary

SB133 raises the Lauderdale County Commission Chair’s salary, allows future increases up to $50,000 per year, adds duties, and retroactively validates past pay increases.

What This Bill Does

It changes Lauderdale County to have the Chair elected on a countywide basis for a four-year term and removes the probate judge as chair after the first election under the new arrangement. It sets the Chair’s salary at $40,000 per year, with the county commission able to raise it to up to $50,000 per year for future terms, and allows an expense allowance as long as total compensation does not exceed $50,000 annually (with any allowance converting to salary in the next term). It assigns additional duties to the Chair, including promoting economic development, strengthening intergovernmental partnerships, and representing the county on boards and committees. It also retroactively validates past salary increases or cost-of-living adjustments paid before the act’s effective date, dating back to November 18, 2016. The act becomes effective immediately after the governor signs it or it becomes law by other means.

Who It Affects

• Lauderdale County Chair and Lauderdale County Commission (salary changes, new duties, and potential for future pay increases).
• Lauderdale County taxpayers and county budget (funding for salary and any expense allowance from the county general fund, capped at total $50,000 per year).

Key Provisions

• Chair is elected countywide and serves a four-year term; probate judge ceases to serve as chair after the first such election.
• Starting at the next term, the Chair’s salary is $40,000 per year, with potential increases up to $50,000 per year for future terms.
• An expense allowance may be provided, but total compensation (salary plus allowance) cannot exceed $50,000 per year; any allowance automatically becomes salary in the next term.
• The Chair must promote economic development, establish intergovernmental partnerships, represent the county on boards/committees, and perform other duties as voted by the county commission.
• Past salary increases or cost-of-living increases paid before the act’s effective date are retroactively validated to November 18, 2016.
• The act becomes effective immediately after the governor signs it (or becomes law by other means).

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, increased the salary of the Chair of the County Commission