Senate approves governance changes for University of Montevallo with grandfathering amendment

The Senate passed Senate Bill 66, a measure affecting the governance of the University of Montevallo. Sponsor remarks described three principal changes: reducing trustee term lengths from 12 years to eight years, introducing a two-term limit and removing a requirement that the university president be an educator.

Senator Weaver offered and the Senate adopted an amendment that exempts trustees appointed and confirmed before Jan. 1, 2027, from the new term provisions. The amendment passed without objection and the bill was then approved on final passage with a recorded tally of 32 ayes, 0 nays.

Supporters characterized the bill as an update to board composition and term management; the transcript did not include a detailed fiscal analysis or implementation timetable beyond the grandfathering date spelled out in the amendment.