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Senate changes composition, appointment process for Department of Archives and History board
Summary
Senate Bill 5, adopted April 17, 2025, restructures the Department of Archives and History board: appointments move from a self‑appointing model to a mix of governor, legislative and other appointing authorities, requires geographic and demographic diversity, and makes the governor a voting member; bill retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025.
The Alabama Senate on April 17, 2025 adopted a committee substitute for Senate Bill 5 to change the composition and appointment process for the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Department of Archives and History. The substitute passed on final passage, 26 yeas to 5 nays.
Senator Elliott, sponsor of the committee substitute, said the change shifts the board from a largely self‑appointing structure to appointments made by elected officials (governor, speaker of the house, president pro tempore of the Senate, and others), with certain speaker‑and‑pro‑tem appointments to be selected from lists that include minority‑leader nominees. The statute designates one board member to represent each congressional district (as of 01/01/2025) and several at‑large seats; terms are six years. The governor will be a voting member of the board.
The substitute requires appointing authorities to coordinate appointments to ensure the board “is inclusive and reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and economic diversity of the state.” Each appointed member serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority; appointee names are subject to confirmation by the Senate. The act is retroactive to January 1, 2025.
Elliott and supporters framed the changes as increasing accountability and ensuring the board’s membership reflects statewide diversity while preserving the archives’ mission. The Department of Archives and History and the “Friends of the Archives” participated in drafting the committee substitute, according to the sponsor. The Senate adopted cloture and moved the substitute and final passage that day.
Final passage was recorded 26–5. The bill makes no change to the archives’ mission or to the director’s duty list; it alters appointment mechanics, term dates, and confirmation flows and provides for per diem reimbursement but no salary for board members.
