State Rep. Micky Hammon

State Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur, announced Tuesday he will not be a candidate for the House District 4 seat he has held since 2002 and will retire from public service when his current term ends.

“Now that Republicans have implemented the reforms necessary to take Alabama to the next level, I think it’s time to turn my seat over to the next generation of leaders, who will carry us into the future with fresh perspectives and new ideas,” Hammon said. “I am proud that Alabama’s borders are more secure, its families are better off, and its children have more education choices as a result of the efforts undertaken during my time in the House.”

Hammon was elected as House Majority Leader in 2010 and held the post until stepping down from the position earlier this year. He previously served as chairman of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee and as vice chairman of the House Republican Caucus.

As a lawmaker, Hammon is perhaps best known as the House sponsor of comprehensive, nationally recognized legislation designed to combat illegal immigration in Alabama.

Some portions of the bill, which was passed in 2011 and is commonly known as “HB56,” were overturned by courts, but much of the law remains firmly in place and serves as a template for many of the Trump administration’s on-going immigration efforts today.

One enacted provision in HB56, for example, withholds state funds from cities, towns, and municipalities that declare themselves as “sanctuary cities.” Earlier this year, President Trump signed an executive order that mirrors the provision by withholding federal grants and other types of aid from sanctuary areas sheltering illegal immigrants across the country.

After helping create the plan that captured a Republican legislative majority in 2010, he also played a role in passing some of the most significant government reforms implemented in modern times. The Proration Prevention Act, wide-ranging ethics reforms, school choice initiatives, and other important measures were all approved while he served as the Republican floor leader.

Hammon thanked his wife, Pam, and his three three grown children for their support during his public service career.

“Public service requires a great deal of time and effort by the officeholder, but it also demands a good bit of sacrifice by their family members,” Hammon said. “My wife and children have my deepest gratitude for putting up with the family events I missed and the weeks I was away from home while serving in Montgomery. Their love and support has sustained me throughout my legislative service.”

House District 4 includes portions of Morgan and Limestone counties.