Mayor urges support for HB 450 and opposes bill to alter local police authority
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Summary
In a mayoral report the city urged support for House Bill 450 — a local gun-safety measure requiring ID when possessing a firearm in certain large cities — and voiced opposition to a separate bill that would change how local police leadership is assigned. The mayor asked residents and council members to contact state legislators.
The mayor of Montgomery addressed the City Council to highlight two state bills he said could affect the city’s public safety and policing operations.
The mayor said House Bill 450 "would require individuals to carry valid ID when possessing a firearm in Montgomery and other large cities," and described the measure as reinforcing "accountability and supports responsible gun ownership." He repeated that the bill “does not reinstate permits or restrict firearm ownership or constitutional rights.” (S5)
He also urged opposition to a separate measure — described in his remarks as House Bill 36 and later corrected to Senate Bill 36 — saying it "could change how leadership authority within local police departments is assigned and how operational structures are managed." The mayor and chief of police, he said, had communicated their opposition and asked residents to "reach out and connect again with your legislators and express opposition to this bill." (S5)
Why it matters: The mayor framed HB 450 as a public-safety accountability measure for large cities and characterized the other bill as a potential disruption to local policing authority. Council members and the mayor encouraged public engagement during the remaining days of the legislative session to press lawmakers on the city’s positions.
What happened next: The council did not take a formal local ordinance on the bills during the meeting; the mayor asked council members and residents to contact state legislators while the bills remain under consideration. (Discussion and remarks at SEG 083–SEG 181)
