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HB499 • 2026

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

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

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 bill does not provide specific details on how counties should notify the governor of vacancies, only that it broadens circumstances under which a vacancy is deemed to occur.

Changes to County Constables

This law allows county commissions in Alabama to revise the number of constables, their areas of service, and conditions for leaving office.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows counties to change the number of constables they have.
  • Lets counties adjust which parts of the county each constable serves.
  • Changes when a constable is considered to have left their job.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County commissions in Alabama
  • Constables working in counties

Terms To Know

constable
A local law enforcement officer who serves specific areas within a county.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Does not specify how many constables each county must have.
  • Does not detail the exact conditions under which a constable's position is considered vacant.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-09 House

    Enacted

  2. 2026-04-08 House

    Delivered to Governor

  3. 2026-04-08 Senate

    Signature Requested

  4. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1200 (Yeas 34, Nays 0)

  5. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 34, Nays 0)

  6. 2026-04-07 House

    Enrolled

  7. 2026-04-07 House

    Ready to Enroll

  8. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  9. 2026-04-01 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee Second House

  10. 2026-03-31 House

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1093 (Yeas 66, Nays 0)

  11. 2026-03-31 House

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 66, Nays 0)

  12. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  13. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government

  14. 2026-03-11 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  15. 2026-03-11 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  16. 2026-02-24 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  17. 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
Page 3
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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