SB306 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris ElliottSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to any county in which the county commission is currently composed of four county commissioners and the chair of the county commission is currently rotating among these commissioners; to provide for the election of the chair of the county commission on a countywide basis as an additional member of the commission commencing with the general election in 2024; to provide for terms; and to provide for the salary and duties of the chair of the county commission.

Summary

SB306 would add a fifth, countywide-elected chair to certain Alabama counties and set the chair on a full-time, circuit-judge–salary path starting in 2024.

What This Bill Does

In counties with four county commissioners where the chair currently rotates among them, the bill would create an additional chair position elected by the whole county starting with the 2024 general election. The chair would serve a two-year initial term (2024) and then four-year terms beginning in 2026, with terms running concurrent with the other four commissioners and starting in November after elections. The chair would be a full-time member who can vote on matters before the commission and would be paid using the same salary schedule as a circuit judge, with possible adjustments for years of service; the existing rotating chair arrangement would no longer apply, and the salaries of the other four commissioners would remain unchanged.

Who It Affects

• Residents and voters in Alabama counties that currently have four county commissioners, because they would elect an additional, fifth member and see changes to how the county commission is run.
• The county's four current commissioners and the new chair position, since the chair becomes a fifth, full-time member who can vote and has a salary set by the circuit-judge pay schedule.

Key Provisions

• Adds §11-3-1.3 to elect a countywide chair as an additional member in counties with four commissioners where the chair currently rotates.
• Upon election of the chair, the rotating duty among the four existing members ends for those terms.
• Initial chair term is two years in 2024; successors elected in 2026 and every four years thereafter, with terms concurrent with the four other commissioners and starting in November after elections.
• The elected chair serves full-time and has the duties of a county commission chair; the chair may vote on commission matters.
• The chair's annual salary is based on the same salary schedule as a circuit judge, including adjustments for years of service; salaries of the other four commissioners are not changed.
• Laws conflicting with this act are repealed; the act becomes effective immediately after passage and 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

County commissions, composed of four county commissioners, election of chair co-wide, compensation