HB255 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Russell BedsoleRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Sheriffs, creates a service of process fee in every county and authorizes sheriffs to contract for service of process
Summary: HB255 would statewide authorize sheriffs to contract for service of process and establish a $50 per-document service of process fee to fund sheriff operations, with specified fee distribution and an option to adopt this fee in place of local rules, effective October 1, 2024.
What This Bill Does
First, it extends the authority to contract for service of process to sheriffs in all counties. Second, it creates a statewide service of process fee of $50 per document and requires the fee to be collected by the circuit clerk, with $3 kept by the circuit clerk fund, $3 paid to the district attorney (who is exempt from paying the fee), and the remaining amount sent to the sheriff. Third, sheriffs may adopt the fee and its disbursement in lieu of local fee structures. Fourth, the money collected is dedicated to operating the sheriff’s office and does not revert to the county general fund. The act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects
Group 1: Sheriffs in all counties — gain authority to contract for service of process and can adopt the new $50 per-document fee and its distribution to fund their offices.
Group 2: Circuit clerks and district attorneys — circuit clerks collect the $50 fee and allocate $3 to the circuit clerk fund and $3 to the district attorney per document, with the remainder to the sheriff; district attorneys are exempt from paying the fee.

Key Provisions
Expands contracting authority for service of process to sheriffs in all counties (not just some counties).
Imposes a service of process fee of $50 per document, collected by the circuit clerk; the district attorney is exempt from paying the fee.
Fee distribution: $3 retained by the circuit clerk fund, $3 transferred to the district attorney, and the remaining funds go to the sheriff for their use.
Sheriffs may adopt the service of process fee and its disbursement in place of local law, if applicable.
Funds collected are used for the operation of the sheriff’s office and do not revert to the county general fund at fiscal year end.
Effective date: October 1, 2024.

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