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SB262 • 2026

Jefferson County; sheriff compensation revised

Jefferson County; sheriff compensation revised

Housing
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Smitherman
Last action
2026-02-05
Official status
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Jefferson County Sheriff's Pay Revised

This bill changes the salary and benefits for the sheriff of Jefferson County, Alabama.

What This Bill Does

  • Sets the annual base salary for the Jefferson County sheriff to $160,000 starting with their next term.
  • Gives the sheriff cost-of-living increases similar to those given to deputy sheriffs in Jefferson County.
  • Adds an extra yearly expense allowance of $40,000 for the sheriff, paid monthly from county funds.
  • Allows this expense allowance to be included as part of retirement benefits.

Who It Names or Affects

  • The sheriff of Jefferson County
  • Jefferson County's general fund

Terms To Know

cost-of-living increases
extra money given to help cover rising prices for things like food and housing.
expense allowance
money given to someone to pay for work-related costs.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens if the governor does not approve it.
  • It is unclear how this change will affect the county's budget.

Bill History

  1. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  2. 2026-02-05 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Jefferson County Legislation

Official Summary Text

Jefferson County; sheriff compensation revised

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
SB262 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB262
BYR3V44-1
By Senators Smitherman, Coleman-Madison (N & P)
RFD: Jefferson County Legislation
First Read: 05-Feb-26
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BYR3V44-1 01/22/2026 OW (L)ccr 2026-460
Page 1
First Read: 05-Feb-26
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to Jefferson County; to amend Section
45-37-230, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide further for the
compensation of the sheriff.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 45-37-230, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§45-37-230
(a) Effective beginning the next term of office, the
annual salary of the Sheriff of Jefferson County shall be one
hundred sixty thousand dollars ($160,000).
(b) Effective beginning the next term of office, the
sheriff shall receive the same cost-of-living increases
provided to deputy sheriffs in Jefferson County granted after
that date.
(c)(1) Effective beginning on the effective date of
this act, the sheriff shall receive an additional expense
allowance of forty thousand dollars ($40,000) per year,
payable in equal monthly installments from the general fund of
the county.
(2) This expense allowance shall be in addition to all
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SB262 INTRODUCED
Page 2
(2) This expense allowance shall be in addition to all
other compensation or benefits received by the sheriff and may
be treated as compensation for retirement contributions.
(d) Effective beginning with the next term of office,
the annual salary of the sheriff shall be two hundred
twenty-five thousand dollars ($225,000), and the compensation
provided for in subsections (a) and (c) shall be void. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on the first
day of the first month following its passage and approval by
the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law .
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