# Alabama HB611: Winston County, lodging tax authorized, fire protection fee imposed, collection and distribution provided, referendum provided Alabama HB611, Winston County, lodging tax authorized, fire protection fee imposed, collection and distribution provided, referendum provided, is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Tim Wadsworth (Republican); status enacted, last action 2026-04-13 (Enacted); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-16). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB611-2026rs - As of: 2026-10-16 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama HB611 - State: Alabama - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Winston County, lodging tax authorized, fire protection fee imposed, collection and distribution provided, referendum provided - Status: enacted - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-03-11 - Last action: 2026-04-13, Enacted - Sponsor: Tim Wadsworth (Republican) - Cosponsors: 1 - Subjects: Winston County - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 4 (148 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 3 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Lodging revenue funds Winston County needs: benefit, low. The law lists October 1, 2026, as its effective date; these spending rules require voter approval and county adoption of the lodging tax. Of the proceeds, 55% funds county roads and bridges, divided among commission districts by their shares of lodging facilities and short-term rentals. The county… - Winston County guests pay nightly fire fee: cost, low. The law lists October 1, 2026, as its effective date and requires majority approval from county voters voting before it operates. Once operative, the county must charge guests $5 per night for each transient accommodation rented or furnished in Winston County. This fire protection fee is separate f… - New lodging tax for Winston County guests: cost, low. The law authorizes an 8% Winston County lodging tax, added to all other taxes, only after voter approval and county adoption. It covers room charges and charges for personal property and services furnished in the room. State lodging-tax exemptions apply, and qualifying 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizat… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Tim Wadsworth (Republican), House - Cosponsor: Tracy Estes (Republican), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-08 | Senate | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 29 | 0 | | | 2026-04-08 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1231 | pass | 28 | 0 | 1 | | 2026-03-19 | House | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 63 | 0 | 34 | | 2026-03-19 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 984 | pass | 28 | 0 | 75 | ## Actions (16) - 2026-04-13: Enacted (House) - 2026-04-08: Third Reading in Second House (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1231 (Senate) - 2026-04-08: Ready to Enroll (House) - 2026-04-08: Enrolled (House) - 2026-04-08: Signature Requested (Senate) - 2026-04-07: Reported Out of Committee Second House (Senate) - 2026-04-07: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation (Senate) - 2026-03-31: Pending Committee Action in Second House (Senate) - 2026-03-19: Third Reading in House of Origin (House) - 2026-03-19: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 984 (House) - 2026-03-17: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (House) - 2026-03-17: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2026-03-11: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation (House) - 2026-03-11: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (House) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB611-int.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB611-enr.pdf) ## Related bills - HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for misuse of personal voter information; created (enacted) - SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (enacted) - SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require indigent candidates to submit documentation for fee exemption (enacted) - HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for violations provided for (enacted) - SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitation purposes prohibited; redaction of certain information relating to financial tr… (enacted) - SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular (enacted) ## Sources - [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB611-int.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/HB611-enr.pdf) ## Related - [HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB67-2026rs) - [SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB154-2026rs) - [SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require in…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB165-2026rs) - [HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for vio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB317-2026rs) - [SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitatio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB272-2026rs) - [SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB190-2026rs) - [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills) - [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB611-2026rs (as of 2026-10-16).