HB355 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ernie YarbroughRepresentative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Fire Protection Districts; Elections for Service Fees
Summary: HB355 creates fire protection districts in Lawrence County and funds them with voter-approved fire protection fees collected by the county, with different election rules for incorporated and unincorporated areas.
What This Bill Does
The bill allows the county government and municipalities to form fire districts and govern them by bylaws. It establishes fire protection fees charged to businesses and dwellings within the district, with revenues limited to fire protection and related emergency services. In incorporated areas, the municipal governing body sets the fee by ordinance without an election; in unincorporated areas, the fee requires voter approval following a defined election process. It repeals a prior funding act and establishes an effective date of October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects
Residents and businesses in Lawrence County who live or operate within fire districts, who may pay a fire protection fee (with certain exemptions).
Residents and businesses in incorporated areas of the county where the municipal government sets the fee by ordinance (no election required).
Residents in unincorporated areas who must vote to approve or deny the proposed fire protection fee before collection begins.
Fire district boards and the county revenue commissioner, who administer and collect the fee and distribute funds to the district.
The judge of probate, who calls elections on fire protection fees in unincorporated areas.
Senior citizens aged 65+ with income of $12,000 or less, who are exempt from paying the fee, as are several other exempt entities (schools, churches, hospitals, etc.).

Key Provisions
Section 3 establishes how fire districts may be formed and governed by the county commission or municipal governing bodies, and allows governance by bylaws.
Section 4 creates the fire protection fee, lists exemptions (including schools, churches, hospitals, agricultural buildings, government structures, the Alabama National Guard, certain veterans and fraternal organizations, and seniors 65+ with income <= $12,000), and states the fee revenue must be used only for fire protection and related emergency services.
Section 5 requires municipalities to set fees by ordinance without an election, while unincorporated areas require voter approval via an election called by the judge of probate after county commission approval, with published notices and election timing rules.
Section 5 also details how the fee is collected (by the county revenue commissioner), how the rate is applied (same rate for business and dwelling, on an annual cycle with ad valorem tax timing), and how delinquent payments may incur a late fee and collection costs.
Section 10 repeals Act 92-409 (1992) which previously provided for a different fire protection fee structure, effectively replacing it with HB355’s framework.
Section 11 provides the effective date of 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: Lawrence County