SB80 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom ButlerSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Local Government Training Institutue, renamed Buddy Sharpless Education Institute

Summary

The bill renames the Alabama Local Government Training Institute to Buddy Sharpless Education Institute and updates its governance and training provisions.

What This Bill Does

It changes the institute's name to Buddy Sharpless Education Institute and updates the board name accordingly. It preserves county commissioner training after general elections, with the institute designing and administering the course and the board setting attendance rules; advanced or continuing training can be funded and credentials may be awarded. It gives the institute's governing board authority to approve any additional requirements for local emergency management directors. It expands ethics training coordination with the State Ethics Commission, requiring quarterly reporting of county commissioners who complete the institute's program and mandating legislator and public official ethics training with online options and mandatory attendance, effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• County commissioners and local emergency management directors who must complete or be subject to training overseen by the Buddy Sharpless Education Institute and whose certification requirements may be amended by the institute's board.
• State legislators, state constitutional officers, cabinet officers, executive staff, municipal mayors, council members, county commissioners, local boards of education, lobbyists, and other public employees who are subject to ethics training overseen by the State Ethics Commission and related reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Rename the Alabama Local Government Training Institute to Buddy Sharpless Education Institute and update definitions to reflect the new name.
• Institute remains funded by public funds; board named as the Board of Directors of the Buddy Sharpless Education Institute; board has power to design, implement, and administer training and to award credentials; may enter contracts as needed.
• County commissioners must receive training after each general election and complete it within two years; the board sets attendance guidelines and the institute may provide advanced or continuing training with funding; credentials may be awarded.
• Governing board may approve additional training requirements for local emergency management directors.
• Ethics training provisions require coordination with the State Ethics Commission; county commissioners must complete the institute's program and quarterly notices of completion must be reported; legislators and other public officials face mandatory ethics training, with online options; 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

Authorities, Boards, & Commissions