Alabama House Adjourns Without Considering Bill to Boost Montgomery Police Staffing

Controversial legislation would have required MPD to meet minimum officer-to-resident ratio or face state takeover

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:54pm

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A photorealistic painting of a lone police car parked on an empty urban street, the vehicle's silhouette cast in deep shadows while warm sunlight bathes the surrounding buildings, creating a contemplative, cinematic mood that reflects the political tensions over public safety in the city.The failure to pass a bill mandating higher police staffing levels in Montgomery leaves the department's recruitment and retention challenges unresolved.Montgomery Today

The Alabama House of Representatives adjourned for the year on Thursday without taking up a bill that would have forced the Montgomery Police Department to increase its staffing levels or risk a state takeover of the department. Senate Bill 289, sponsored by Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, failed to make it to the House floor for discussion before the legislative session ended.

Why it matters

The bill was seen as an unfunded state mandate by Montgomery city officials and religious leaders, who argued the legislation was an overreach and would not actually improve public safety. The failure to pass the bill leaves the staffing issues at MPD unresolved, with the department estimated to be nearly 200 officers short of the proposed minimum.

The details

Senate Bill 289 would have given law enforcement agencies serving Class 3 municipalities like Montgomery and Huntsville five years to employ at least 1.9 full-time officers for every 1,000 residents. If departments did not meet the quota within that timeframe, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency could have taken over 'operational oversight' of the department until the staffing benchmark was reached.

  • The Alabama House adjourned for the year on Thursday, April 10, 2026.
  • Senate Bill 289 was last on the House's calendar for Thursday, but the chamber did not bring it to the floor for discussion.

The players

Sen. Will Barfoot

The Republican state senator from Pike Road who sponsored Senate Bill 289.

Nathaniel Ledbetter

The Republican Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives.

Montgomery Police Department

The law enforcement agency serving Alabama's capital city, which was the target of the staffing requirements in Senate Bill 289.

Steven Reed

The mayor of Montgomery, who opposed the bill and said the city did not request legislative help to increase MPD's staffing.

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What they’re saying

“We couldn't get it out. We didn't have enough time to be honest with you because it was going to be filibustered the whole way through.”

— Nathaniel Ledbetter, Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives

“I'm disappointed for the citizens of Montgomery and those who come and visit here and shop here and work here, and I'm disappointed for the men and women of Montgomery Police Department who risk their life every day.”

— Will Barfoot, State Senator

“Partnerships can work when done correctly. Takeovers do not, punishment does not and that's what Senate Bill 298 sets out to do.”

— Steven Reed, Mayor of Montgomery

What’s next

Barfoot said he's not sure if he'll bring the bill back next legislative session if he is reelected, stating that his 'sincere hope is that the Montgomery leadership does everything they can get an adequate number of police in place'.

The takeaway

The failure to pass this controversial bill leaves the staffing issues at the Montgomery Police Department unresolved, with the department estimated to be nearly 200 officers short of the proposed minimum. The debate highlighted the tensions between state and local control over law enforcement, as well as the challenges facing urban police departments in recruiting and retaining officers.