[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6661086,"mediaKeyId","2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786","parentId",2416970,"title","Committee endorses renaming Alabama Local Government Training Institute after late executive director Buddy Sharpless","audioSeconds",165,"startMs",286000,"endMs",451000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786&start=286&end=451","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786/thumbnail_286000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6661086/Alabama/Committee-endorses-renaming-Alabama-Local-Government-Training-Institute-after-late-executive-director-Buddy-Sharpless","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661086-96b147d08620b4138de62497ef9e714b/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878072&Signature=Fs0Xd0kxRG4q2QVACy-0V-vwtBCvI23AJmF4obFIEOLu3Ppcv-QrlUHF5t1JtWubzc9pdkE4H5uAEDc23J3xsMhoOIYtDQSk-mnjF5lUFONzcF2mLEQ2GIEK~A51HwHbFhscryF2Q0QNbXUziHegAib8citS2oBj1pbX-1w1y6anJQdaWYKbefmvWgNzv0XTLa1VqqPpfez-KFsIVCJg05moqagI7q7RF7zNHwTi~gvZSZNt5ZUIW8v6luuygDBsFxOGFbJI6mOS6puu5DclvN4yXfn0IMMf5Bg1VbbrDgjsAfj0wGipQmUx4DYr5EdxjdNNMRbZD6LY9ub8upp7GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House Sessions","date","2025-02-27T01:53:16.397Z","article","Committee members advanced SB80 to rename the Alabama Local Government Training Institute in honor of the late O.H. \"Buddy\" Sharpless III, who supporters said led passage of the institute and championed mandatory county‑official training.

A former county commissioner who credited Sharpless with creating the institute in the 1990s and several longtime staff and alumni told the committee that Sharpless organized training in budgeting, public works, personnel and ethics for newly elected county officials.

Brad Smith and other speakers urged the committee to approve the renaming as a modest recognition of Sharpless's decades of work; Senator Butler and Representative Woods supported the measure on the floor. The committee approved the bill by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House County and Municipal Government Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Senators and former county commissioners supported SB80 to rename the Alabama Local Government Training Institute for Buddy Sharpless; committee members passed the bill by voice vote after several lawmakers and alumni praised Sharpless's role in creating mandatory training for county officials.","taxTitle","County and Municipal Government, House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",15875,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661090,"Committee approves amendment and advances bill to shift sheriffs' start time to daytime",129,147000,276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786&start=147&end=276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786/thumbnail_147000.jpg","/articles/6661090/Alabama/Committee-approves-amendment-and-advances-bill-to-shift-sheriffs-start-time-to-daytime","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661090-a78182717d740a2c1223f3833d4fe120/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878072&Signature=bMxqYNRxhBe1uMg3qcJWw-5MwJ2W~cKk4CD-2NxHUqMAsqquuOj158Rx0uEUk4-4obmAW9z~HUwaTx5tUpSz0X1nDK7rkupn4M9iAVAgvrCfHikDu7VcmCJR6OivN14XtmHlvTK7rvhg0v5F2JUiky5Vw~Vo73FjypAB3Iyrrll1tmRZISKjjW~O053jFm5~-GQLDKYTPLmHAroQHVQD280dlI0JZpecXScKwetzSnvi0O9dGVsHYBAFu8p5XfTeAMaEfwHY0G3IJZtpEfRXGRKULnzB4e~fTdiKUO5MmdWIbVlcz~FcS6LeJ5sVFMnIgNpDYvqNln8uj6T3STkmPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During a committee session Representative Sales introduced House Bill 324, which would move the operational start time for newly elected sheriffs from 12:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Sponsors said the change would ensure deputies are not required to assume duties at midnight amid shift‑change and logistical issues.

The sponsor said sheriffs and their offices prefer a daytime transition and reported discussions with county officials who support the change. Committee members reviewed an amendment that revised language on page 2 to avoid conflict with an existing statute regarding county commissioners; the amendment passed by voice vote and was added to the bill.

After amendment, the committee approved HB324 as amended by voice vote. The record shows no roll‑call tally; the chair announced the motion and members responded \"aye.\"","The committee passed an amendment and approved House Bill 324, which would change when newly elected sheriffs assume active duty from midnight to noon; sponsors said sheriffs and deputies favor a daytime swearing‑in to avoid operational disruptions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661095,"Committee approves measure restoring uniformity for two class‑4 cities' staggered terms",53,87000,140000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786&start=87&end=140","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786/thumbnail_87000.jpg","/articles/6661095/Alabama/Committee-approves-measure-restoring-uniformity-for-two-class4-cities-staggered-terms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661095-780379868fb999818569bb26442329eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878072&Signature=bD4f9Iqe4zVAPTOHmH--YAZpG-kw91Z7DIbdWxdaqz-HU5d7wKg8GquxICVpn~ubc62U9E9OIC68EEi2VbXh53jF9weKek8qzm9agoUqxW37TN~kP4ZyyhMBX9hVXQNgSwJWoHJVwIfhxP-sZEhRsbxYttlFTGpV75obCdFbbCxBjSljjOQSedxvB5d2W3odefJ38gWaHdV1SuvX4Yn994fIQTxpJDW1Af6Ac7QeVEkKncC-cgq57IFgBQVJSbSId0oXfxCXMgqzNnOPx11ujQB7ey~1FgHuyhxMF5-Ah7HbKDt~oltXdefwxAPgTZSinXvYbgQUKIlKwNt4bfiQoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House committee approved HP252 on a voice vote after Representative Butler described the bill as a narrowly targeted fix affecting class‑4 municipalities.

Butler said the bill addresses an historical anomaly that left Tuscaloosa exempt from a provision that otherwise applied to Gadsden; the legislation would allow the affected city to follow the same term‑timing approach as peers. Committee members offered no substantive opposition and passed the measure by voice vote.

The committee recorded no roll‑call tally in the minutes; the chair announced the motion and members responded \"aye.\"","The committee approved HP252 to equalize term timing for class‑4 municipalities; sponsors said the change would extend parity between Gadsden and Tuscaloosa and remove a local anomaly. The motion passed by voice vote.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6661100,"House committee hears hourslong debate on HB241 over engineering requirements for fortified homes",1903,475000,2378000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786&start=475&end=2378","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2416970-a3b71e1103a1f9b7e4e481e3568f5786/thumbnail_475000.jpg","/articles/6661100/Alabama/House-committee-hears-hourslong-debate-on-HB241-over-engineering-requirements-for-fortified-homes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6661100-8600183e3e31e036864eacd336b3f41f/orig.mp4?Expires=1772878072&Signature=Dacu2kHPOSYPQ4Eq1MzhJw1SSNViwEt6et0Jtk6xiHGc4kEDjINaQo04p~ElEmskttS8OUM2N4Sou3fhX1OwiRe59M4-el8glL3BARUakcgHWlGVFbyoRSISXLjrvnEbCjmnffkljbjF6r4MZV5AvNlzRgcq7SEc4jTeVWc7CTLsmV-j3B97-BPfH0tSzEtQ6S2sVt5sK3KSCTLLsNL4IKZAZj604sDRO2AhLdJrWcfywvmWixkhjtEfi761JS-tjP~LrL8Ubvd05VMgS69siUTddkilkVyXsZqADewHgo2BEBqOdCAAHoeJd8EH~gUQgLcSZJD3ma~s8NYO0lzpPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Eastbrook opened a public hearing on House Bill 241, a proposal that would limit engineering-plan requirements for many single‑family homes, saying the bill aims to reduce construction costs and speed homeownership.

The bill prompted extensive testimony for and against changes to current practice. Builders and homeowners described rising engineering fees and the added cost of Fortified certification, while county engineers, building officials and municipal representatives said professional design and stricter codes reduced storm damage and protected neighboring properties.

\"The cost to build a house has doubled in the last eight years,\" a builder who testified during the hearing said. \"I don't need this stamp. I built houses 30 years, and never had a problem.\" Representative Eastbrook repeated that the bill would apply to single‑family residences up to three stories and said the aim is to lower the upfront cost to buyers.

Randy Davis, who identified himself as a former state representative from District 96, urged support for fortified construction in coastal areas and said the program has helped preserve homes in past hurricanes: \"It's really nice the day after a hurricane ... to see houses standing, and their roof is on them.\"

Frank Lundy, Baldwin County engineer, told the committee that stronger building codes and early professional design work reduced the number of structures damaged in storms. \"Our building codes and requiring professional design and professional input on the front end when plans are being developed ... work,\" Lundy said, citing the much larger debris volumes produced by earlier storms and the relatively smaller number of structures damaged more recently.

Representing municipal interests, Baker Allen, director of governmental affairs for the Alabama League of Municipalities, said HB241 would create a \"one‑size‑fits‑all\" approach that could leave some jurisdictions exposed: \"We need flexibility at the local level to provide for the needs of each area of the state.\"

A representative of the International Code Council explained the Fortified program and its insurance implications, telling the committee that more than 75,000 homes in Alabama have been built to Fortified standards and that the highest level, Fortified Gold, requires plan certification and construction details not achievable through retrofitting older homes.

Witnesses and committee members discussed specific costs cited during testimony: engineering fees for a 2,500‑square‑foot house were described as roughly $4,000; Fortified Gold extra steps (including a fabric window covering) were described in testimony as adding roughly $1,200 to engineering and about $4,500 for materials; insurance discount examples cited in testimony showed modest annual savings (bronze ~$72, gold ~$128) that witnesses said made payback times long for inland properties.

Several speakers noted that wind‑design requirements in building‑code tables already require special design in coastal and other high‑wind zones, and witnesses said a shortage of structural engineers in the region has driven up fees and wait times for plan review.

Committee members said an amendment is expected to exclude areas south of Interstate 10; the chair also announced a referral to the Governmental Services Subcommittee chaired by Representative Stubbs, and said he would appoint Francis Hope Jones to that subcommittee. No committee vote on HB241 was taken at the hearing.

The matter will return to the full committee only after the subcommittee meets and reports back.","A public hearing on HB241 drew builders, insurance and building-code officials, and county engineers to debate whether statewide limits should be placed on when structural engineering is required for single-family homes; lawmakers referred the bill to a subcommittee and no vote was taken.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee endorses renaming Alabama Local Government Training Institute after late executive director Buddy Sharpless

Committee approves amendment and advances bill to shift sheriffs' start time to daytime

Committee approves measure restoring uniformity for two class‑4 cities' staggered terms

House committee hears hourslong debate on HB241 over engineering requirements for fortified homes