House Bill 499 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Napoleon BracyRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Constables; county commission, authorized to number of constables and geographic area served in county

Summary

HB499 would let counties pass local laws to change how many constables they have, which parts of the county they cover, and when a constable leaves office.

What This Bill Does

The bill changes state law to allow local legislation to (1) revise the number of constables in a county, (2) revise the areas within the county that constables serve, and (3) revise the conditions under which a constable vacates office, with conforming updates to the rules. It keeps the general concept of one constable per precinct, but local laws could alter how many constables exist and which precincts they cover. The act becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• County governments: can pass local laws to change the number of constables and the geographic areas they represent.
• Constables and county residents: could be affected by changes to vacancy rules and which areas they are represented by, reflecting local legislation.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes counties, by local legislation, to revise the number of constables in the county.
• Authorizes counties, by local legislation, to revise constables' geographic coverage and the conditions under which a constable vacates the office (including vacancy rules), with conforming changes.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

State & State Officers