House Bill 479 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben RobbinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Coosa County; probate judge, sheriff, and revenue commissioner, salary and expense account provided for

Summary

HB479 would replace Coosa County's compensation for the probate judge, sheriff, and revenue commissioner with salaries tied to a district court judge's pay and repeal existing compensation rules.

What This Bill Does

The probate judge would get a salary equal to 70% of a district court judge with the same years of service starting October 1, 2026, with future increases tied to district court judges and the judge would receive benefits and travel expense reimbursement; the judge must waive certain state voter registration reporting to receive this pay. The sheriff's pay would be phased in: current salary through the end of the existing term, then an expense allowance starting October 1, 2026 to bring total pay to 60% of a district court judge, with the base salary later set at 60% of district judge pay beginning January 18, 2027 and the expense allowance ending; the sheriff would not be eligible for county cost-of-living or additional salary increases, but would receive benefits and expense reimbursements. The revenue commissioner would follow a similar path: continue current salary through the existing term, then an expense allowance starting October 1, 2026 to bring total pay to 60% of a district court judge, with the base salary set at 60% of district judge pay beginning October 1, 2027 and the expense allowance ending; the revenue commissioner would not be eligible for county COLA increases and would receive benefits and expense reimbursements. The act also repeals the old compensation statute (Section 45-19-11) and becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Coosa County officials—the probate judge, sheriff, and revenue commissioner—will have their pay structure changed to district court judge-based salaries with phased transitions, benefits, and expense reimbursements, plus restrictions on certain reporting and COLA eligibility.
• Group 2: Coosa County taxpayers/general fund—the county would pay the new salaries and expense allowances, funding from the county general fund, and the old compensation law would be repealed; overall costs and budgeting will be affected.

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Probate Judge salary set at 70% of district court judge salary with equivalent years of service; replaces all prior compensation; requires waiver of certain state voter registration report; includes benefits and travel/expense reimbursement.
• Section 2: Sheriff: (a) current salary continues through the existing term; (b) starting Oct 1, 2026, an expense allowance to reach 60% of district court judge salary; (c) starting Jan 18, 2027, base salary becomes 60% of district court judge salary and the expense allowance is void; no county COLA increases; includes expenses and benefits; funded from the county general fund.
• Section 3: Revenue Commissioner: (a) current salary continues through the existing term; (b) starting Oct 1, 2026, expense allowance to reach 60% of district court judge salary; (c) starting Oct 1, 2027, base salary becomes 60% of district court judge salary and the expense allowance is void; no county COLA increases; includes expenses and benefits; funded from the county general fund.
• Section 4: Repeals Section 45-19-11, removing the current compensation statute for these offices.
• Section 5: Effective date is October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 19, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Coosa County