SB26 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Feb 19, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chris ElliottSenator
Republican
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Title: Libraries; further provides for the appointment of local library boards
Summary: SB26 would reorganize how Alabama county and municipal library boards are appointed and removed, set term rules, and authorize joint-library arrangements.
What This Bill Does
It requires five-member local library boards to be appointed by the county commission or the municipality's governing body, and members serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority, with removal by a two-thirds vote. Initial terms are staggered (one year for one member, two years for another, three years for a third, and four years for the remaining two), and all future terms are four years; vacancies are filled by the appointing authority and members serve without compensation. The bill requires appointing authorities to coordinate appointments to ensure board membership reflects the state's racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity. It also allows local library boards to contract with another unit to establish and maintain a joint library service, sets how such joint libraries would be formed and governed, and provides reporting provisions; the act becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects
Group 1: County commissions and municipal governing bodies that appoint library boards; they would gain and exercise appointment/removal authority, set term rules, coordinate appointments for diversity, and implement vacancies and compensation policies.
Group 2: Library board members, library staff, and library users in counties and municipalities (including areas that may form joint libraries); they could see changes in governance, potential new joint-library services, and expanded access while ensuring representation and reporting.

Key Provisions
Local library boards will consist of five members appointed by the county commission or the municipality's governing body.
Each board member will be appointed to a four-year term and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority; removal requires a two-thirds vote of the appointing authority.
Initial terms will be staggered: one member for one year, one for two years, one for three years, and two for four years; after the first term, all appointments are four years.
Vacancies will be filled by the appointing authority.
Board members will serve without compensation.
Appointing authorities must coordinate to ensure board membership reflects the state's racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity.
The bill authorizes contracting with another unit to establish and maintain a joint library service, and defines how such joint libraries are formed and governed.
If no existing library exists, the power to contract for a joint library may vest in the county commission or municipal governing body to contract with another unit's governing body, including determining representation on the joint library board.
The size and appointing authorities of a joint library board may be determined by the contracting parties.
A joint library board will have the powers and duties of county or municipal library boards; members serve at the pleasure of their appointing authority and may be removed by a two-thirds vote.
Joint library boards and existing boards may cooperate with state and federal agencies and must submit required records and reports, while not infringing municipal charter provisions.
Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Counties & Municipalities