HB500 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Ernie YarbroughRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Lawrence County, sheriff compensation revised
Summary: HB500 changes Lawrence County sheriff pay to a $95,000 annual package with a staged transition and ongoing cost-of-living increases, replacing the old pay structure.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends the sheriff’s compensation. It retains the existing 2001-salary basis for the next term, then introduces an interim expense allowance beginning Oct 1, 2025 to bring total pay to $95,000 per year. Starting Jan 19, 2026, the sheriff’s total base salary is set at $95,000 per year, replacing the previous pay components, with the sheriff still eligible for future county COLA increases paid like other county employees.

Who It Affects
Lawrence County Sheriff: gains a staged pay change—first an expense allowance to reach $95,000 total compensation (Oct 1, 2025), then a fixed $95,000 base salary (Jan 19, 2026) and ongoing COLA.
Lawrence County (general fund and budget): must pay the sheriff $95,000 annually (via the general fund) and administer these payments in the same way as other county employees.

Key Provisions
Section 45-40-230(a): continues the sheriff’s pay at the amount the sheriff was receiving on December 28, 2001 for the next term of office.
Section 45-40-230(b)/(c): begins October 1, 2025, an expense allowance to raise total compensation to $95,000 per year, paid from the county general fund in the same manner as other county employees; beginning January 19, 2026, the sheriff’s base salary becomes $95,000 per year, replacing the 2001 salary and the expense allowance.
Section 45-40-230(d): after January 19, 2026, the sheriff will continue to receive any cost-of-living increases granted to county employees, paid in the same manner as other employees.
Section 2: the act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

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