HB14 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Reed IngramRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Law enforcement, authorizes Attorney General or Governor to appoint interim police chief subject to certain conditions

Summary

HB14 would let the Attorney General or Governor appoint an interim police chief for certain municipalities when there is a ongoing public safety threat, and it sets rules for those municipalities during the interim.

What This Bill Does

The bill authorizes the AG or Governor, after consulting with the other, to appoint an interim police chief to oversee a municipal department if there is an identified ongoing public safety threat and certain conditions are met. The interim chief would operate under the appointing authority and not be subject to the mayor or city council, serving until the threat is resolved and with salary set by the appointing authority. The bill also requires funding and operational standards to be maintained, allows cost recovery through court action, and provides reporting requirements; it even allows the county sheriff to serve as interim chief with limited extra pay. If a municipality fails to meet the funding and operational requirements, it could be barred from receiving state funds until compliance is restored.

Who It Affects

• Municipalities with an interim police chief appointment: could have a non-mayoral, state-level appointee overseeing the police department during a public safety threat, and must maintain funding and operations or face loss of state funding.
• The Attorney General, Governor, and other involved parties (including the district attorney and sheriff): would have authority and obligations to appoint, consult, set salary, seek cost recovery, and monitor compliance during the interim period.

Key Provisions

• The AG or Governor, after consultation, may appoint an interim police chief to oversee a municipal police department if a public safety threat exists and the outlined conditions are met.
• Conditions include reviewing crime statistics, finding the department is 30% or more below the five- or ten-year average staffing level, and consulting with the district attorney, county sheriff, and crime victims.
• The interim chief serves under the appointing authority and is not subject to the municipality's mayor, city council, or other officials.
• The interim chief serves until the threat is determined to be resolved after satisfying all required actions.
• Salary is paid from the appointing authority’s funds and set at the appointing authority’s discretion.
• The appointing authority may petition a circuit court to recoup costs incurred, including the interim chief’s salary; if requirements were met at appointment, the court shall award these costs.
• The interim chief is considered a state officer for purposes of applicable Alabama law.
• The interim chief must provide semimonthly status reports to the municipality’s mayor and city council.
• The sheriff may be appointed as interim chief, with additional compensation up to $75,000 per year if appointed.
• Municipalities with an interim chief must maintain funding and operational standards comparable to the five fiscal years prior to appointment; failure to comply could result in loss of state funds until corrected.
• The act becomes effective immediately.

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

Subjects

Public Safety & Emergencies; State Government