The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Alabama sets $500 mayoral and $250 council qualifying fees for Class 4 municipal elections and establishes tax-return verification for indigent fee exemptions
Last action · April 17, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Andrew Jones
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What This Bill Does
Alabama establishes a $500 for mayoral candidates and a $250 fee for city council and school board candidates in , while allowing indigent candidates to be exempt by providing their most recent tax return showing income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty level. Candidates must also file an itemized expense and contribution report within 30 days after the election. The law takes effect immediately upon enactment.
Local candidates face mandatory filing fees and new documentation rules, while city clerks must process tax returns for fee waivers and enforce post-election financial disclosures.
- Class 4 municipalities in Alabama operate under a mayor-council form of government as defined by state statutory codes. context
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Municipal candidates
Candidates must pay specific qualifying fees or submit federal tax returns proving income eligibility for exemptions, and file itemized campaign expense reports.
City clerks
City clerks must collect qualifying fees, receive and process tax returns for indigent exemptions, and accept post-election campaign expense statements.
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
How much are the qualifying fees for municipal elections under this law?
What does a candidate need to provide to qualify for an indigent fee exemption?
When must candidates report their campaign expenses?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Became law.
Procedural history
18 actions- Apr 17, 2026SenateEnrolledEnacted
- Apr 8, 2026SenateEnrolledDelivered to Governor
- Apr 8, 2026HouseSignature Requested
- Apr 8, 2026SenateEnrolled
- Apr 8, 2026SenateReady to Enroll
- Apr 8, 2026HouseFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1289
Show 12 earlier actions
- Apr 8, 2026HouseThird Reading in Second House
- Mar 11, 2026HouseRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Mar 11, 2026HouseCommitteeReported Out of Committee Second House
- Feb 25, 2026HouseCommitteePending Committee Action in Second House
- Feb 25, 2026HouseIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the House Committee on County and Municipal Government
- Feb 25, 2026SenateFloorMotion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 611
- Feb 25, 2026SenateCarried Over to the Call of the Chair
- Feb 25, 2026SenateThird Reading in House of Origin
- Jan 20, 2026SenateRead for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- Jan 20, 2026SenateCommitteeReported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 14, 2026SenateCommitteePending Committee Action in House of Origin
- Jan 14, 2026SenateIntroducedRead for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government
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.
Sponsors
Connected Entities
Sources
alison.legislature.state.al.us
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance45How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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