SB48 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Boards of Registrars; qualifications of registrars revised; salary increased; status of employment further provided for

Summary

SB48 updates how Alabama boards of registrars are chosen and operated, lifts registrar pay, and adds new qualifications and operating rules for county registrar offices.

What This Bill Does

It requires the state board of appointment to consider county diversity (race, gender, urban/rural, economic) when appointing registrars beginning October 1, 2025. It raises registrar pay from $80 to $150 per day for days worked, with the state paying and counties handling distribution and related taxes. It strengthens registrar qualifications (elector status, county residency, education, computer and map skills, communication and data processing abilities, and office equipment use) and requires guidelines from the Secretary of State. It sets the chair designation, allows local law for additional members in two-courthouse counties, and provides for county-based travel, social security, health insurance options, and expense reimbursement. It also establishes maximum working days per fiscal year by county, sets operating hours (open during courthouse hours or regular hours with staff present), and allows for special sessions with notice requirements. Lastly, counties with populations above 600,000 are largely exempt from some provisions and the act takes effect October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Registrars and county election offices: receive a pay raise to $150 per day, new qualification requirements, and broader operating rules including travel and potential health insurance options; designated as state employees for Social Security and retirement purposes.
• County residents and voters: may experience changes in registrar services and access due to defined operating hours, open hours on working days, and the potential for more diverse and potentially representative boards governing registrar functions.

Key Provisions

• Starting October 1, 2025, the state board of appointment must consider racial, gender, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the county when appointing registrars.
• Registrar qualifications are expanded to require being a qualified elector, county resident, having a high school diploma or equivalent, plus specific computer, map-reading, communication, data-processing skills and the ability to operate office equipment.
• Registrar pay increases from $80 to $150 per day for days in session, with the state paying and counties handling disbursement and related tax obligations; mileage and travel expenses are defined, with different rules for travel in various counties.
• The act treats registrar employees as state employees for Social Security/retirement protections and allows counties to provide health insurance to long-serving registrars under certain conditions.
• Maximum number of working days per fiscal year for each county’s board of registrars is set, with many county-specific limits and exceptions; special sessions are allowed with notice requirements, and sessions may be conducted outside courthouse hours.
• Counties with two courthouses may have additional appointments locally; counties with populations over 600,000 are largely exempt from some provisions, and 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

Elections, Voting, & Campaigns