Alabama Legislature Passes HB220, Expanding Authority to Remove and Replace Appointed Board Members

April 9, 2026 - MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama Legislature has approved HB220, a significant restructuring of how appointed members of state boards, authorities, and commissions may be removed and replaced. The measure was jointly sponsored by Representative Chris Pringle (R-Mobile) and Speaker of the House Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville). HB220 cleared both chambers and is now waiting for the Governor's signature. HB220 would take effect on October 1, 2026.

HB220 establishes broad new authority for several of the state's top elected officials-including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Speaker of the House, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, House Minority Leader, and Senate Minority Leader-to remove any board member they originally appointed. Under the act, these officials may dismiss their appointees "at any time", even if other laws previously required a specific removal process.

The bill applies to any multi‑member board, authority, or commission created under state law in which at least some members are appointed rather than elected. Once a member is removed, the appointing authority must fill the vacancy according to existing statutes, and the replacement must meet all qualifications required for that board.

Supporters of the legislation argued that the change brings needed accountability and flexibility to state government. By allowing appointing authorities to remove their own appointees without navigating lengthy or outdated procedures, they said, the state can respond more quickly to misconduct, inactivity, or policy disagreements on key boards.

HB220 also includes several notable exceptions. The act does not grant the Governor authority to remove individuals appointed to fill vacancies in elected offices, preserving long‑standing protections for those positions. Additionally, the bill explicitly excludes the Alabama State Port Authority, the State Ethics Commission, and the governing boards of two‑year and four‑year public colleges and universities. Lawmakers said these exclusions reflect existing constitutional or statutory structures designed to insulate certain institutions from political turnover.

The legislation marks one of the most sweeping adjustments in recent years to the balance of power between Alabama's executive and legislative leadership and the hundreds of appointed members who oversee state agencies and public entities. Once the law takes effect in October 2026, appointing authorities will have far greater discretion to reshape boards as political priorities shift or new administrations take office.

The 2026 Alabama Legislative Session concluded on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)