House Bill 160 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ronald BoltonRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Tuscaloosa County; overtime compensation, public safety employees, further provided

Summary

HB160 would expand and standardize overtime rules for Tuscaloosa County public safety workers, add a four‑10s shift option for some Northport/Tuscaloosa police, and set new overtime rules for fire protection staff, with a future effective date.

What This Bill Does

The bill would require time-and-a-half overtime or compensatory leave for law enforcement officers in Tuscaloosa County (and in county cities) who work more than eight hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week, with officers allowed to choose overtime pay or compensatory leave. It would allow Northport and the City of Tuscaloosa to schedule certain police positions on four 10-hour shifts per week, applying overtime rules for hours over 10 per day or 40 per week and giving officers a choice between overtime pay and compensatory leave. It would exclude the City of Tuscaloosa’s Executive Director of Public Safety from overtime pay or compensatory leave. It would apply similar overtime rules to fire protection employees in Tuscaloosa County for hours beyond 24 in a tour or 53 in a week, allow averaging of hours to align with the Fair Labor Standards Act, permit shorter workweeks if desired, count all paid leave as hours worked, and give employees a choice between overtime pay and compensatory leave, with the same executive director exemption; the act would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Law enforcement officers in Tuscaloosa County (including city police within the county and those employed under LEAA/LEPA grants) who would gain overtime pay or compensatory leave options and may be affected by the four 10-hour shift arrangement for some positions.
• Fire protection employees in municipalities within Tuscaloosa County who would gain overtime pay or compensatory leave options for extended tours or weeks, along with potential hours‑worked accounting changes and the option to average hours under FLSA.

Key Provisions

• Amends Act 80-356 Sec 1 to require time-and-a-half overtime or compensatory leave for law enforcement officers working more than eight hours in a day or more than 40 hours in a week, with officer choice of overtime or leave.
• Adds a Northport/Tuscaloosa provision allowing four 10-hour shifts per week for certain police positions, with overtime or compensatory leave for hours over 10 in a day or over 40 in a week, and officer choice between overtime and leave.
• Excludes the City of Tuscaloosa Executive Director of Public Safety from overtime pay or compensatory leave under this section.
• Amends Act 88-317 Sec 1 to provide overtime pay or compensatory leave for fire protection employees after 24 hours in a tour or 53 hours in a week, allows averaging with FLSA, permits shorter workweeks, counts paid leave as hours worked, and requires employee choice between overtime and leave, with the same executive director exemption.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Tuscaloosa County