HB571 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Alan BakerRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Escambia County, cigarette and beer taxes further provided for
Summary: HB571 would reshape Escambia County's administration of cigarette and beer taxes, including funding, staffing, and enforcement changes.
What This Bill Does
It allows the county governing body to set rules for collecting the cigarette tax without changing how the tax revenue is distributed. It requires funding from the county general fund to the judge of probate for stamps, materials, and supplies needed to administer the tax. It lets the county hire inspectors with salary and expense caps to help enforce the tax, with costs reimbursed to the county general fund; it also lets the county hire beer tax inspectors with a separate monthly limit and reimbursement. It repeals the older 1953 beer tax Act and includes an effective date provision as described in the act.

Who It Affects
Escambia County officials and staff (governing body, judge of probate, and inspectors) by giving them rulemaking authority for tax collection, funding, and enforcement responsibilities.
Escambia County residents who pay cigarette and beer taxes, who may experience changes in how the taxes are collected and enforced.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 45-27-247.07 to allow the county governing body to promulgate rules for cigarette tax collection but not alter the tax's distribution.
Requires funding from the county general fund to the judge of probate for stamps, materials, and supplies needed to administer the tax; allows employing inspectors with combined salary and expenses not to exceed $1,200 per month (individual salary cap up to $450 per month) with costs paid from the general fund and reimbursed as provided by Section 45-27-247.06.
Allows the county governing body to employ inspectors to assist with enforcement of the tax, with monthly salary/expense caps and reimbursement rules as described.
Section 2 authorizes the Escambia County Commission to hire beer tax inspectors with expenses not to exceed $500 per month, paid from the general fund and reimbursed per general law.
repeals Act 575, 1953 (beer tax) in Escambia County.
Effective date provisions are included in the act (date not clearly specified in the provided text).

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