SB49 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Constitutional Amendment-Tuscaloosa Co.-referendum on the merger of the governments for the City of Tuscaloosa and Northport.

Summary

SB49 would let voters in Tuscaloosa County, including the City of Tuscaloosa and the City of Northport, approve merging into a single urban-county form of government.

What This Bill Does

It would put the merger into a constitutional amendment and allow a referendum in the area. It creates an Advisory Council on Metro Government to draft a charter and set up a Metro Government with a Metro Council and a full-time Mayor, funded by the county and two cities. It requires a 2026 charter election and defines the Metro Council’s powers, while preserving existing laws until changed by the new structure, and imposes tax and zoning rules to govern the transition and operation. It sets a timeline for merging finances by January 1, 2028 and requires voter approval in both Tuscaloosa and Northport to take effect.

Who It Affects

• Voters in Tuscaloosa County, including residents of the City of Tuscaloosa and the City of Northport, who would vote on the amendment and later live under the Metro Government if approved.
• County and municipal governments and taxpayers in the area, who would implement the merger, share funding for the Advisory Council, and operate under new tax, zoning, and governance rules.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes a referendum to merge Tuscaloosa County government and the City of Tuscaloosa and the City of Northport into an urban-county form of government.
• Creates an Advisory Council on Metro Government to draft a charter and establish a Metro Council and Mayor, with four members appointed by the probate judge, four by the City of Tuscaloosa mayor, and two by the City of Northport mayor; funding split 50% county, 40% City of Tuscaloosa, 10% City of Northport.
• Requires the Advisory Council to propose a charter and hold a 2026 General Election to allow the public to vote on the Metro Government’s structure and operations; the Metro Council would be elected from county districts on a nonpartisan basis, with the Mayor as a full-time position and the Council as part-time.
• Assigns the Metro Council powers that mirror those of the City of Tuscaloosa, City of Northport, and Tuscaloosa County, subject to future state laws; existing ordinances continue until changed by the new government.
• Imposes tax and zoning rules: no new ad valorem tax or sales/use tax without a referendum; zoning outside city limits before 2042 can only be authorized via local law with an elected zoning board, and the Legislature may not expand Metro zoning outside current areas until 2043.
• Merges all financial operations by January 1, 2028; provides process for constitution placement and future revisions to reflect the new government.

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

Subjects

Tuscaloosa County