Senate Bill 312 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Wes KitchensSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Marshall County; volunteer fire districts, annexation of new areas, application of fire service fee, enforcement

Summary

Marshall County can annex areas into existing volunteer fire districts and fund fire protection with a new fire service fee on homes and businesses, plus enforcement and reporting rules.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes annexation of new areas into volunteer fire districts through a county- and association-led plan, with final approval by the county commission. It creates and defines a fire protection service fee for dwellings and business properties (including mobile homes, tiny homes, and certain RVs connected to utilities) and sets billing rules, per-unit charges for multi-unit buildings, and exemptions for unconnected RVs. It sets collection and enforcement by the revenue commissioner, imposes delinquent and citation fees, and requires regular financial reporting to ensure funds are used for fire protection and emergency services; fee increases are restricted for five years and require a referendum.

Who It Affects

• Residents and property owners within Marshall County fire districts who will pay the fire protection service fee on dwellings and business properties
• Areas and residents being annexed into a fire district and becoming subject to the fee if approved
• Owners of multi-unit buildings or properties with multiple units (fee per unit)
• Mobile home, tiny home, and RV owners connected to utilities (fee applicable; RVs in storage not charged)
• Volunteer fire districts and county agencies (receive and manage funds; maintain records; comply with reporting)
• Marshall County Revenue Commissioner (collects, enforces, and reports on the fees)
• Businesses operating from dwellings (may affect how the fee is applied to the building)

Key Provisions

• authorize Marshall County Commission to annex new areas into existing volunteer fire districts, with a plan from the Marshall County Association of Fire Departments and Rescue Squads and final county approval
• define fire service fee terms: business property, dwelling, tiny home, and recreational vehicle; inclusions and exclusions (RV storage excluded)
• establish fee application rules: per-unit charges for multi-unit buildings; single charge for business that operates from a dwelling; fee not a tax
• cap fee increases for five years after initial approval; require a referendum for any future increases and a two-year cooldown if a referendum fails
• revenue collection and enforcement by the revenue commissioner, including a $25 delinquent fee and citation process; distributions to districts with admin fee not to exceed 5%; annual and monthly financial reporting to county and association; reports made public
• effective date: October 1, 2026

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 4, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Marshall County