This bill proposes to exempt Jackson Hospital & Clinic, Inc. and JHC Pharmacy, LLC from all state, county, and municipal fees and taxes. The exemption would apply for a five-year period starting May 1, 2026, and ending September 30, 2031. The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage, removing the requirement for these two healthcare entities to pay various local and state taxes during the specified timeframe.
SB 265 modifies Alabama's tax incentives for data processing centers. It limits the maximum tax abatement period to 20 years starting January 1, 2027, and requires large data centers (meeting specific job and wage thresholds) to pay state sales/use taxes on purchases beginning the same date. The bill also extends the sunset date for these abatements and updates related tax code language. These changes directly affect new or expanded data processing centers qualifying under Alabama's definition (20+ jobs averaging $40,000+ annual compensation). The bill aims to balance economic development incentives with increased tax revenue collection for qualifying facilities.
SB 36 requires Alabama municipalities to refund sales and use taxes paid by Alabama residents when purchasing goods from another Alabama city or town. It directly affects Alabama residents who buy goods outside their home municipality (e.g., a Montgomery resident buying in Birmingham) and pay local taxes there. To get a refund, residents must submit proof of payment and residency once yearly, and municipalities must pay interest starting 90 days after a valid refund request is received. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, and applies only to taxes collected on tangible personal property.
HB 326 expands tax exemptions for Alabama Masonic lodges. It adds all subordinate lodges under the Prince Hall Grand Lodge and the regular Grand Lodge to existing state tax exemptions, covering sales, county, and municipal fees until September 2027. Local governments may also choose to exempt these groups from local sales taxes. Lodges must annually report all subordinate locations to the state revenue department.
SB 235 exempts Crime Stoppers of Metro Alabama, Incorporated, from paying Alabama state sales and use taxes. It also allows counties and municipalities to choose whether to exempt this organization from local sales and use taxes through a local resolution or ordinance. The bill takes effect on September 1, 2026, and directly affects this specific nonprofit organization by removing its tax obligations for sales and use taxes at both state and optional local levels. This is a targeted tax exemption, not a broad policy change.
SB 236 exempts "Life on Wheels" from paying Alabama state sales and use taxes. The bill provides this exemption for state taxes but requires separate approval for county or municipal taxes under existing law. The exemption would apply from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029, and takes effect on June 1, 2026. This directly affects Life on Wheels' tax obligations for qualifying purchases.
HB 244 exempts electricity and natural gas used in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses from Alabama’s utility gross receipts tax and utility service use tax. This directly affects agricultural businesses operating these facilities by reducing their energy-related tax burden. The bill amends Alabama tax code sections to explicitly add these uses to existing exemptions, clarifying that energy used for heating or operation in these specific agricultural settings is not subject to the taxes. The change takes effect September 1, 2026, and does not alter tax rates for other energy uses.
SB 221 would change Alabama's sales tax rules by excluding credit card transaction fees from the taxable amount when customers pay by card. Specifically, merchants would no longer include fees charged by credit/debit card networks (e.g., interchange fees) when calculating sales or use tax on purchases. This directly affects merchants who currently pay tax on the total amount charged to customers, including these fees. The bill requires the Department of Revenue to create implementation rules and takes effect September 1, 2026.
SB 10 proposes a constitutional amendment in Alabama that would require Tuscaloosa County voters to approve any new or increased county or municipal sales and use tax through a majority vote at a referendum held during a regular general election. The amendment mandates at least two public hearings and 60 days of newspaper notice before any such tax vote. It directly affects Tuscaloosa County residents and local governments by preventing tax increases without voter consent, ensuring community input before new tax levies take effect.
HB 3 exempts state sales and use taxes on fresh, unprocessed fish or seafood sold directly by anglers or fishermen (defined as "producers" in the bill). This applies only to retail sales of seafood in its original, unmanufactured state. Local counties and municipalities may choose to also exempt these sales from local taxes, but only if they adopt a specific resolution or ordinance. The exemption takes effect on September 1, 2026.
