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The Andalusia City Council approved a measure Tuesday that will move city school board elections up one year.

In an effort to comply with recent changes to state voting laws, the council held a first reading on the ordinance to move school board elections.The ordinance was approved following the second reading during Tuesday’s meeting.

The Andalusia City School Board serves staggered terms with elections every two years. The BOE election scheduled for 2022 will be moved up to 2023 and the 2024 election will be moved to 2025.

In March, the governor signed into law SB119, which moved municipal elections up one year to avoid having local and presidential elections in the same year. The law was lobbied by the Alabama League of Municipalities.

While the state moved the municipal elections, the legislature does not control rules regarding local school boards. Instead, cities were to consider that change.

The 2023 election features candidates for school board only while the 2025 election will include the remaining BOE seats, members of the city council, and mayor. All current members of the council, BOE, and the mayor will see their term extended by one year due to the state and local changes.

According to the Act approved by the state, “regular municipal elections in cities and towns shall be held on the fourth Tuesday in August 2025, and quadrennially thereafter.” Any runoff election will be held the fourth Tuesday following the regular election.

The law comes after a busy year at the polls as 2020 featured state elections, county elections, municipal elections and a presidential election.

Other items discussed by the council during Tuesday’s meeting included the following:

• The council approved providing a $1,500 donation to the Alabama Junior Rodeo Association. The association holds an event in Andalusia each year, which provides some educational opportunities, according to Mayor Earl Johnson.

• Following a meeting in executive session during the council’s workshop preceding the regular session, a motion was passed to approve a bid for undisclosed security equipment. The cost of the equipment was also not discussed outside of the executive session.

The next city council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 15, 6 p.m., at city hall. A work session precedes the meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend.