SB6 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris ElliottSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Libraries, further provides for the appointment of local library boards
Summary: SB6 would modify how county and municipal library boards are appointed and removed, set four-year terms with removal by a two-thirds vote, and authorize joint library services with other units.
What This Bill Does
It requires library board members to serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and to be removable by a two-thirds vote. It creates a five-member local library board appointed by the county commission or municipal governing body, with four-year terms and initial term staggering. Vacancies are filled by the appointing authority, and board members serve without pay; annual reporting to state leaders is required. It also allows contracts to create joint library services with other units and establishes joint library boards with powers and duties similar to local boards, while protecting existing municipal charter provisions.

Who It Affects
County commissions or municipal governing bodies: they appoint five-member local library boards, coordinate appointments to ensure diversity, and can remove members by a two-thirds vote.
Library board members: they will serve four-year terms at the pleasure of the appointing authority, may be removed by a two-thirds vote, and will serve without compensation.
Residents and users of public libraries: governance and potential joint library arrangements could affect library services and access.
Other counties, municipalities, or governmental units: they may contract to establish and maintain joint library services, forming joint library boards with defined powers.
State officials (Governor, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate): they will receive annual reports on library board membership and actions.

Key Provisions
Local library boards will consist of five members appointed by the county commission or the governing body of the municipality.
Each member serves a four-year term and serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority; may be removed by a two-thirds vote of that authority.
Initial terms are staggered (one year, two years, three years, and two four-year terms); after the first term, all appointments are four years.
Vacancies are filled by the appointing authority.
Board members serve without compensation.
Annual reporting requirement: by December 31 each year, to the Governor, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tempore of the Senate, detailing membership and actions taken in the prior year.
Appointing authorities must coordinate appointments to reflect the state's racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity.
The bill allows counties/municipalities to contract with other units to establish or maintain joint library services; a joint library board may be formed with powers and duties similar to local boards, with size and representation determined by the contracting parties.
Joint library boards may cooperate with state and federal agencies and must submit required records and reports; charter provisions are preserved where applicable.
Effective date: 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: Counties & Municipalities