House Bill 119 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Fire protection fee; extend requirement to manufactured homes

Summary

HB119 extends the fire protection service fee to manufactured homes in Mobile County by defining residence for fee purposes and updating the law, effective October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill requires a fire service charge to be paid by owners of residences within Mobile County to support fire districts. The charge applies to various dwelling types, including manufactured homes and house trailers, and is a personal obligation with a property lien to collect it. It also creates a possible exemption for certain structures on county lines under specific conditions and allows limited retroactive waivers, while continuing to collect charges like other property-based assessments.

Who It Affects

• Residential property owners in Mobile County who own a structure used as a residence (including single-family homes, units in duplex/multiplex/condominiums, apartment buildings, house trailers, manufactured homes, and lots in residential parks).
• Fire protection districts in Mobile County that levy and collect the charges; they would administer the fee, enforce liens, and handle exemptions/waivers.

Key Provisions

• The bill amends Section 45-49-140.10 to fund fire districts through a service charge, making it a personal obligation of the property owner and creating a lien on the property to secure collection, enforceable by sale.
• It adds a definition of 'residence' that includes manufactured homes for the purposes of charging the service fee.
• It provides a potential exemption for certain structures on county lines if specific criteria are met, including historical tax treatment in 1990, an agreement with another district for fire/EMS services, and an irrevocable waiver of liability related to response to calls.
• It allows retroactive waivers of unpaid charges under conditions that the board finds the waiver would not significantly affect the district and the district’s long-term debt is below a defined threshold (no more than one-tenth of one percent of outstanding debt).
• The bill lists who is charged by the district (Class III single-family owner-occupied property; units in duplex/multiplex/condominiums; apartment buildings; house trailers; manufactured homes; and lots in residential parks or developments for mobile homes or RVs).
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 17, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Mobile County