Alabama2026Enacted
SB165
SB165: Fees for City Election Candidates in Class 4 Municipalities
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 9:06 AM
In one sentence
This law sets specific dollar amounts that candidates must pay to run for mayor, city council, or municipal board of education in certain Alabama cities and creates a fee waiver process for low-income applicants who provide proof.
What it does
- Sets the qualifying fee at $500 for mayoral candidates.
- Sets the qualifying fee at $250 for city council and municipal board of education candidates.
- Requires all candidates to pay these fees when they file their statement of candidacy with the city clerk.
- Allows financially unable candidates to skip the fee if they prove their income is low enough by filing a tax return or getting statements from three voters.
Who it affects
- Candidates running for mayor in Class 4 municipalities with a mayor-council government.
- Candidates running for city council or municipal board of education in those same cities.
- City clerks who collect the fees and review exemption documents.
- Low-income individuals seeking to run for these offices without paying the fee.
Limits and unknowns
- This law only applies to Class 4 municipalities with a mayor-council form of government, not all cities in Alabama.
- The text does not explain what happens if the city clerk rejects an exemption request due to missing documents.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Qualifying Fee
- The money a candidate must pay when filing their statement of candidacy to officially appear on an election ballot.
- Class 4 Municipality
- A specific type of city in Alabama that uses a mayor and council system of government.
- Federal Poverty Level
- An income standard set by the federal government used to measure if someone has low enough earnings for certain benefits or exemptions.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
This act amends Section 11-43B-4, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to Class 4 municipalities with a mayor-council form of government, to: (1) require candidates for a municipal board of education to pay a qualifying fee when filing a statement of candidacy; (2) provide the qualifying fees for mayoral candidates is $500 and for city council and board of education candidates is $250; and (3) exempt indigent candidates for these positions from qualifying fees if their most recent tax return evidences the candidate has a gross income not exceeding 130 percent of the federal poverty level.
Official activity
Bill history
- EnactedSenate
- Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1289 (Yeas 79, Nays 0)House
- Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 91, Nays 0)House
- Delivered to GovernorSenate
- Signature RequestedHouse
- EnrolledSenate
- Ready to EnrollSenate
- Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarHouse
- Reported Out of Committee Second HouseHouse
- Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 611 (Yeas 33, Nays 0)Senate
- Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 33, Nays 0)Senate
- Pending Committee Action in Second HouseHouse
- Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on County and Municipal GovernmentHouse
- Carried Over to the Call of the ChairSenate
- Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarSenate
- Reported Out of Committee House of OriginSenate
- Pending Committee Action in House of OriginSenate
- Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on County and Municipal GovernmentSenate