House Bill 1440 Advances; Would Make Morgan County Attorney Appointed, Remove Residency Requirement

The State and Local Government Committee on April 21, 2025, voted 14-0 to advance House Bill 1440, a private act sponsored by Representative Butler that would change Morgan County's county attorney from an elected position to one appointed by the county commission with a four-year term and remove the county's residency requirement.

Representative Butler, the bill sponsor, told the committee, "So this is a private act for Morgan County to amend the following position of the county attorney. It makes the position appointed or hired by the county commission to a 4 year term instead of an elected 1 and removes the residency requirement for Morgan County." He said the change was requested after the county attorney resigned and noted the county budgets $10,000 a year for legal services, describing the role as part time.

Representative Bricken asked why the county had requested the measure at this late date. Representative Butler said the county commission only realized it needed a private act after the county attorney resigned and that the resignation allowed the former attorney to expand her private practice. Representative Warner and other members followed with clarifying questions about the current arrangement and whether the position had historically been elected; Butler said the position "since 1952" has been an elected office.

The committee called the previous question and proceeded to a recorded vote. Madam Clerk announced the tally: "Mr. Chair, you have 14 ayes, 0 nays." The chair said the bill "meets on the calendar and rules," sending House Bill 1440 forward for consideration by the full chamber's calendar and rules process.

No amendments to the bill were recorded in committee. The transcript does not specify the names of the motion mover or seconder on the floor of the committee, nor does it record individual roll-call votes by member name beyond the 14-0 tally.

If enacted, the bill would alter Morgan County's method for selecting its county attorney and eliminate the local residency requirement; further legislative steps and any implementing details would be set in subsequent stages of the legislative process.