House Bill 491 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed OliverRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Tallapoosa County; remote access of records fee authorized

Summary

HB491 allows Tallapoosa County to charge a remote-access records fee and directs how the funds are used for the probate office.

What This Bill Does

In Tallapoosa County, the County Judge of Probate may charge an additional fee for remote access to probate records by electronic means. Fees collected must go into the special indexing fund under the judge's control and be used for maintenance, operation, and improvement of the office, including the recording system and remote-access services. The judge has discretion on how to use the funds for general operations, technology needs, or improvements. The act also ratifies prior collections and expenditures before June 1, 2026, and becomes effective on June 1, 2026, applying only to Tallapoosa County.

Who It Affects

• Residents and others who access Tallapoosa County Probate Court records remotely, who may be charged an additional remote-access fee.
• Tallapoosa County Judge of Probate and probate office staff, who manage and allocate the new funds for technology, maintenance, and remote-access services.

Key Provisions

• Section 2(a): The probate judge may charge and collect an additional fee for remote access of records by computer or other electronic or digital system.
• Section 2(b): Fees collected must be deposited into the special indexing fund or a successor fund under the control of the judge of probate.
• Section 2(b): Funds are to be used for maintenance, operation, and improvement of the probate office, including the recording system and remote-access services.
• Section 2(c): The probate judge has discretion to determine the appropriate use of these funds for general operation, technology needs, or improvements.
• Section 3: The collection and expenditure of fees prior to the act's effective date are ratified and confirmed.
• Section 4: The act becomes effective on June 1, 2026, and applies only in Tallapoosa County.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Tallapoosa County