Rep. Brett Easterbrook

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes Choctaw County commissioners to raise property taxes by up to five mills to fund road and bridge improvements. The tax increase would apply for a maximum of five years and must be approved by a majority of voters in the county at an upcoming election. The bill also allows the county to take on debt to finance specific infrastructure projects using the tax revenue.

Maddy summaryThis bill from Washington County amends a 1984 law to adjust the compensation for the circuit clerk. It specifically applies to the person holding the circuit clerk office on January 1, 2026, and repeals the compensation provision when that individual leaves office. The changes take effect on October 1, 2026, and include a severability clause to ensure remaining parts of the law stay in force if any section is declared invalid.

Maddy summaryThis bill establishes a new 4% lodging tax in Washington County, Alabama, that applies to hotels, motels, inns, and other businesses renting rooms to transient guests. The tax covers the cost of the room and any personal property or services included in the charge, but excludes items already taxed under state law and rentals lasting 30 continuous days or more. Revenue collected from this tax will be deposited into the Washington County General Fund, and the county commission will be responsible for administering and enforcing the tax. The legislation takes effect on September 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryHB 414 removes criminal penalties for transporting live feral swine in Alabama, changing current law that treated this as a Class B misdemeanor with a $2,500 minimum fine. The bill directly affects landowners, hunters, and others who transport feral swine, as well as the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which can no longer restrict such transport. Key provisions delete all criminal penalty language related to transportation and explicitly state that transporting feral swine is not a criminal offense. The bill also prohibits the conservation department from banning this activity, taking effect immediately upon enactment.

Maddy summaryHB 497 establishes standardized incident classifications and reporting requirements for service providers certified by Alabama's Department of Mental Health (ADMH) that support individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. It defines specific incident types (like "major injury," "exploitation," "elopement," and "suicide attempt") and mandates that providers report these incidents through a centralized electronic system. The bill requires ADMH to adopt necessary rules for implementation while prohibiting the department from imposing stricter reporting rules than those set by the bill or federal law. This affects all ADMH-certified providers serving this population, ensuring consistent incident tracking and management.

Maddy summaryHB 299 proposes to add new court costs for individuals involved in certain legal proceedings within Choctaw County. It would assess an additional $50 in most civil, criminal, and quasi-criminal cases, and $25 in small claims court cases. These new costs would be deposited into a special "Jail Fund" for Choctaw County. The funds are specifically designated to cover the maintenance, repair, operation, and construction debt of the county jail and jail complex. The bill's implementation is contingent on the prior ratification of a local constitutional amendment.

Maddy summaryHB 585 amends existing law to modify the compensation for the circuit clerk in Washington County. It establishes a monthly county supplement allowance for the circuit clerk, equal to two percent of the total annual state compensation for circuit clerks. This supplement will be paid monthly from the county's general fund. The provision for this supplement will become void once the individual holding the office on January 1, 2025, vacates the position. The bill is scheduled to become effective on October 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 351 authorizes the Choctaw County Commission to increase the ad valorem (property) tax rate by an additional five mills on taxable property for five-year periods. This additional tax revenue would be used exclusively for county public roads and bridges in Choctaw County. The measure requires approval by a majority of qualified voters in a county-wide referendum, which would also approve specific road and bridge projects to be funded. The bill allows the county to issue warrants to finance these projects, using the new tax revenue for repayment. This bill directly affects property owners in Choctaw County, potentially increasing their taxes to fund local infrastructure improvements.

Maddy summaryHB 522 authorizes the Washington County Sheriff to manage and dispose of abandoned, stolen, or unclaimed personal property and firearms. The bill requires the Sheriff's office to maintain records of recovered items and allows rightful owners to reclaim their property within six months by providing proof of ownership and covering associated costs. Unclaimed general personal property may be sold at public auction after notice. Unclaimed firearms can be sold to federally licensed gun dealers through sealed bids or destroyed. Proceeds from these sales, after deducting expenses, will be deposited into the Washington County Sheriff's Fund for law enforcement use.

Maddy summaryHB 301 proposes to abolish the office of constable specifically within Choctaw County. This bill directly affects individuals currently serving as constables in the county. Under its provisions, the office of constable will be eliminated at the end of the term of any constable serving on June 1, 2025. The act itself is slated to become effective on June 1, 2025.