Municipalities; annexation, all municipalities authorized to extend corporate limits by resolution and special election

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on how annexed areas will be governed after expansion, leaving this as an unknown.

Municipalities Can Expand Their Boundaries

This bill allows any municipality to expand its boundaries through a resolution passed by the governing body and a special election, removing previous restrictions.

What This Bill Does

• Allows all municipalities to extend their corporate limits through a resolution passed by the governing body.
• Requires that an annexation referendum be held for residents to decide if they want the municipality to expand its boundaries.

Who It Names or Affects

• All municipalities and their governing bodies.
• Residents of areas considering annexation by a municipality.

Terms To Know

Corporate limits

The official boundary lines that define the area covered by a city or town.

Annexation

The process of adding new land to an existing municipality, usually through a vote.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify how annexed areas will be governed after the expansion.
• Effective date is June 1, 2026, but it has not yet been signed into law by the governor.

Official Summary Text

Municipalities; annexation, all municipalities authorized to extend corporate limits by resolution and special election

Current Bill Text

SB264 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB264
NRSVATT-1
By Senators Williams, Elliott
RFD: County and Municipal Government
First Read: 05-Feb-26
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NRSVATT-1 02/04/2026 THR (L)ma 2026-695
Page 1
First Read: 05-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, a municipality with at least
25,000 inhabitants may extend its corporate limits by
resolution of the municipality's governing body and
special election.
This bill would authorize any municipality to
extend its corporate limits by resolution of the
municipality's governing body and special election.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to annexation; to amend Section 11-42-40, Code
of Alabama 1975, to further provide for annexation by
resolution of a municipal governing body.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 11-42-40, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§11-42-40
Any city having 25,000 inhabitants or more, as shown by
the last federal census , from time to time, may extend its
corporate limits in the manner and with the rights, powers,
and privileges as set forth in this article, but the
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SB264 INTRODUCED
Page 2
and privileges as set forth in this article, but the
provisions of this article shall not preclude any city from
extending its corporate limits in any other way or manner that
may be authorized by law."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on June 1,
2026.
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