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HB 439ALABAMASession 2026rsState BillBecame law

Enacted

Alabama updates qualification and continuing education requirements for Escambia County sheriff candidates

Original title: Escambia County; qualifications of the sheriff further provided for

Last action · March 5, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Alan Baker

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Beginning June 1, 2026, candidates and appointees for Escambia County Sheriff must meet updated law enforcement experience standards, felony record restrictions, and complete 12 hours of annual executive-level continuing education after election.

Why it matters

Changes eligibility rules and ongoing training mandates for anyone seeking or holding the office of sheriff in Escambia County.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Escambia County Sheriff candidates

Must meet stricter prior law enforcement service windows, felony restrictions, and experience requirements to qualify for the ballot.

Directly affected

Sheriff of Escambia County

Must complete a minimum of 12 hours of executive-level continuing education annually after election.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What law enforcement experience is required to run for Escambia County Sheriff?

A candidate must have three or more years of full-time prior service as a law enforcement officer with the power of arrest certified by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission.

How many continuing education hours must the sheriff complete each year?

The sheriff must attend annually a minimum of 12 hours of executive-level continuing education approved by the Alabama Sheriff's Association, National Sheriff's Association, or another recognized program.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Became law.

Procedural history

17 actions

Mar 5, 2026HouseEnrolled
Enacted
Feb 26, 2026HouseEnrolled
Delivered to Governor
Feb 26, 2026Senate
Signature Requested
Feb 26, 2026House
Enrolled
Feb 25, 2026House
Ready to Enroll
Feb 25, 2026SenateFloor
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 592

Show 11 earlier actions

Feb 25, 2026Senate
Third Reading in Second House
Feb 24, 2026Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Feb 24, 2026SenateCommittee
Reported Out of Committee Second House
Feb 19, 2026SenateCommittee
Pending Committee Action in Second House
Feb 19, 2026SenateIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation
Feb 19, 2026HouseFloor
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 463
Feb 19, 2026House
Third Reading in House of Origin
Feb 17, 2026House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Feb 17, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
Feb 12, 2026HouseCommittee
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Feb 12, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Connected Entities

National Sheriff's Association, Escambia County, Alabama Sheriff's Association and 1 more

OrganizationNational Sheriff's Association“Approves executive level continuing education programs”Map →

locationEscambia County“County subject to the sheriff qualification rules”Map →

OrganizationAlabama Sheriff's Association“Approves executive level continuing education programs”Map →

OrganizationAlabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission“Certifies law enforcement service and recertification”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance45
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz15
Current news / social attention level

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