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SB 80 Alabama Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Local Government Training Institutue, renamed Buddy Sharpless Education Institute

SB 80 renames the Alabama Local Government Training Institute to the Buddy Sharpless Education Institute to honor O.H. "Buddy" Sharpless, the former executive director of the Association of County Commissions of Alabama who died in May 2024. The bill makes this name change throughout relevant Alabama statutes but does not alter the institute's purpose or operations. The institute continues to provide mandatory training for newly elected county commissioners, as established in 1994 under Sharpless's leadership. No new policies, funding changes, or program modifications are introduced by this renaming bill.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2025
Senate Passage
Feb 2025
House Passage
Mar 2025
Signed into Law
Mar 2025
Introduced Feb 4, 2025 Signed Mar 19, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 5 edits · Mar 19, 2025
MODERATE
This bill formally enrolls SB 80, renaming the Alabama Local Government Training Institute to the Buddy Sharpless Education Institute in memory of O.H. 'Buddy' Sharpless, who passed away in 2024. The enrolled version consolidates formatting inconsistencies from the introduced draft and clarifies the composition of the institute's board with specific appointment authorities.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on renaming the training institute and updating related code sections, with no change to the fundamental purpose of the legislation.
DEFINITION

Updated the official name of the institute from 'Alabama Local Government Training Institute' to 'Buddy Sharpless Education Institute' throughout all referenced sections.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific language requiring the institute to complete training within two years of election and established guidelines for commissioners unable to attend due to vacancies, medical issues, or other sufficient reasons.

Expanded the board composition to include nine specific members appointed by various state officials, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, and representatives from higher education and county commissions.

Added provisions allowing the board to accept grants and donations from various sources and to enter into contracts necessary to carry out its duties.

TECHNICAL

Corrected formatting inconsistencies and page headers between the introduced and enrolled versions, standardizing the bill text for final passage.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 20, 2025 · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

31–0
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 34
Feb 20, 2025
D Democratic8
7 Yea 1
87% Yea
R Republican26
24 Yea 2
92% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
6
Committee
4
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 334
lower
Feb 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (County and Municipal Government)
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 157
upper
Feb 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Feb 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (State Governmental Affairs)
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.