HB499 • 2026

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

Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Bracy
Last action: 2026-04-09
Official status: Enacted
Effective date: 2026-10-01

Plain English Breakdown

The source text contains some garbled phrasing in Section 1 regarding vacancy notification, but the core requirement for judges of probate to notify the Governor remains clear.

HB499: Changes to County Constable Rules

This law allows Alabama counties to change the number of constables, adjust their service areas, and update rules for when a constable leaves office.

What This Bill Does

Allows counties to pass local laws that change the total number of constables in the county.
Lets counties redraw the specific areas or precincts that each constable serves.
Gives counties power to set new rules for when a constable is considered to have left their office.
Broadens the list of reasons why a constable's job becomes empty, including moving out of their election area.

Who It Names or Affects

County commissions that create local laws
Constables working in Alabama counties

Terms To Know

Local legislation: A law passed by a county government that applies only within that specific county.
Election precinct: A geographic area used to organize voters and assign officials like constables.

Limits and Unknowns

The law does not say exactly how many constables a county must have; it only allows counties to change the number.
It is unclear if this bill changes rules for other types of officers besides constables, as the text focuses only on constables.

Bill History

2026-04-09 House
Enacted
2026-04-08 House
Delivered to Governor
2026-04-08 Senate
Signature Requested
2026-04-07 Senate
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1200 (Yeas 34, Nays 0)
2026-04-07 Senate
Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 34, Nays 0)
2026-04-07 House
Enrolled
2026-04-07 House
Ready to Enroll
2026-04-01 Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-04-01 Senate
Reported Out of Committee Second House
2026-03-31 House
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1093 (Yeas 66, Nays 0)
2026-03-31 House
Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 66, Nays 0)
2026-03-31 Senate
Pending Committee Action in Second House
2026-03-31 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government
2026-03-11 House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-03-11 House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-02-24 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-02-24 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on County and Municipal Government

Official Summary Text

This act amends Sections 36-23-1, 36-23-3, and 36-23-7, Code of Alabama 1975, to: (1) authorize counties by local legislation to revise the number of constables in the county, revise the areas within the county represented by constables, and revise the conditions under which a constable is deemed to have vacated his or her office; and (2) broaden the circumstances under which a constable is deemed to have vacated his or her office.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB499 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB499
V7DT2VP-2
By Representative Bracy
RFD: County and Municipal Government
First Read: 24-Feb-26
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HB499 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 24-Feb-26
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to constables; to authorize the Legislature to
further provide for the number of constables in the county;
and to further provide for conditions constitution a vacancy
in the office of constable.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Sections 36-23-1, 36-23-3, and 36-23-7, Code
of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
"§36-23-1
(a) There shall be one constable for each election
precinct in each county, to be elected as provided by law, who
shall hold office for four years from the first Monday after
the second Tuesday in January next after his election and
until his successor is elected and qualified.
(b) Any county, by local legislation, may abolish the
office of constable.
(c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), any county, by
local legislation, may do any of the following:
(1) Revise the number of constables in the county.
(2) Revise the areas within the county to be
represented by constables.
(3) Revise the conditions under which a constable is
considered to have vacated his or her office. "
"§36-23-3
When a vacancy in any election precinct is occasioned
by the death or removal from such precinct of occurs in the
office of any constable thereof , the judge of probate must
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HB499 Enrolled
Page 2
office of any constable thereof , the judge of probate must
shall notify the Governor."
"§36-23-7
The A constable shall vacate his or her office by
removal from the election precinct for which he or she is
elected , or as otherwise provided by law ."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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HB499 Enrolled
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1, 2026.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 31-Mar-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 07-Apr-26 Passed
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