Alabama Department of Environmental Management; water well drillers, licenses and licensees, fees therefore, revised and further provides for; continuing education required

HB 270 revises Alabama's licensing requirements for water well drillers under the Department of Environmental Management. It increases annual license fees to $1,000 for unrestricted drillers and $500 for restricted drillers or business entities, extends licenses to a two-year period (starting October 1, 2025), and requires continuing education (6 hours for unrestricted, 3 hours for restricted) for renewal. The bill directly affects individuals and businesses drilling water wells, geothermal systems, or environmental monitoring wells, mandating licensing for those managing or supervising drilling operations. It also establishes two license types: unrestricted (full drilling rights) and restricted (specialized work only), with business licenses requiring a licensed key employee. The bill does not change existing prohibitions on unlicensed drilling but adds new fee structures and education requirements.