The conference will begin at 2:30 p.m. on the steps of the Alabama State House.
) - City leaders pushed back Monday against Senate Bill 298, proposed legislation they say unfairly targets Montgomery and could allow the state to take over the city’s police department. Standing on the steps of the Alabama State House, Mayor Steven Reed joined State Sen.
Kirk Hatcher and several faith leaders to criticize the bill, which would apply only to Montgomery and Huntsville — the only two Class 3 municipalities in Alabama.would require Montgomery and Huntsville to maintain a minimum staffing level of two full-time police officers per 1,000 residents. If either city fails to meet that threshold within five years, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency could assume control of the city’s police department.The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, told Alabama Daily News the intent is to help Montgomery reach adequate staffing.Reed acknowledged Montgomery Police is facing staffing challenges, but said the issue is not unique to Montgomery and argued the city has pursued solutions through cooperation — not legislation. “We did not ask for help through legislation… we’ve asked for help through partnerships, which has been very successful,” Reed said. Critics at the news conference said shifting operational authority from local leadership to ALEA could weaken the direct relationship between Montgomery residents and the officers who serve them.Hatcher also raised financial concerns, pointing to language in the bill that would require the city to cover the cost of any state intervention. “We don’t even know the actual cost… When you get language like that, that’s problematic,” Hatcher said.Rabbi Scott Looper, speaking at the event, said he believes Montgomery is safe and questioned the framing of the bill as a response to a city-specific problem.A Senate committee discussed SB298 publicly on Feb. 17, 2026, but the bill has not yet come up for debate. It could still advance before the legislative session ends. WSFA 12 News reached out to Barfoot for a response to the concerns raised Monday. As of publication, no response had been received.This is not the first time lawmakers have addressed crime at the local level in Montgomery. In 2024, legislators approved the Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit, aimed at strengthening coordination between state and local law enforcement agencies.
WFSA WSFA 12 News Montgomery Montgomery County Faith Leaders Press Conference Livestream Senate Bill
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