HB91 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Feb 12, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim HillRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Title: Court fees; use of funds allocated to sheriff's office for expenditure further provided
Summary: HB91 would expand how court-fee funds allocated to the sheriff's office can be spent, allowing use for all sheriff’s office functions (not just jail operations), and would broaden uses for funds tied to the solicitor, clerk, and forensic services funds, effective October 1, 2026.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Section 12-19-312 to specify that funds in the Sheriff’s Fund can be used to support the entire sheriff’s office and its law enforcement work, not only jail operations. It also clarifies that the Solicitor's Fund may be spent for the district attorney’s duties or legitimate law enforcement purposes, the Clerk's Fund may be spent at the clerk’s discretion to support the clerk's office, and the Alabama Forensic Services Trust Fund can be used for objective analysis of scientific evidence in pending criminal investigations. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects
Sheriff's Office personnel and operations, who would have broader discretion to use Sheriff’s Fund money for all sheriff functions and law enforcement needs.
District Attorneys, court clerks, and forensic investigators, whose funds (Solicitor’s Fund, Clerk’s Fund, and Alabama Forensic Services Trust Fund) are broadened to cover additional lawful uses.

Key Provisions
Amends Section 12-19-312 to allow the Sheriff’s Fund to be expended for the operation of the sheriff’s office and law enforcement purposes.
Allows the Solicitor's Fund to be used for the district attorney’s duties or legitimate law enforcement purposes.
Allows the Court Clerk's Fund to be expended at the clerk's discretion to support the clerk's office.
Allows the Alabama Forensic Services Trust Fund to be used for objective analysis of scientific evidence in pending criminal investigations.
Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Courts & Judges