This special order calendar resolution directs the Alabama Senate to prioritize a specific list of bills for discussion on the twenty-eighth legislative day. The measure affects various policy areas, including energy, education, taxation, and healthcare, by ensuring these items are addressed before regular business. Key provisions include prohibiting new solar facilities for one year, removing verification requirements for disabled veterans' homestead exemptions, and mandating computer science courses in public schools. Additionally, the order covers updates to guardianship procedures, tax incentives for manufacturing zones, and the authorization of invisible disability license plate decals. By establishing this agenda, the resolution streamlines the legislative process to focus on these concrete policy changes.
This bill prohibits the construction or operation of new large-scale solar power facilities for one year, but only in unincorporated areas of counties served by the Tennessee Valley Authority. The restriction applies to facilities that were not already operating or under construction as of the bill's effective date, which is set to begin immediately upon enactment. The law defines a solar power facility as a ground-mounted installation of photovoltaic panels designed to generate electricity for off-site use or sale to third parties. Exceptions may apply, though the bill does not specify what those exceptions are. The measure is currently pending committee action in the Senate Finance and Taxation General Fund committee.
This bill requires owners of large solar energy projects in Alabama to register with the state Department of Environmental Management every three years and pay a $5,000 filing fee. It mandates that project operators submit detailed plans for shutting down and restoring the land, along with financial guarantees like bonds to cover these costs. The law also gives the department authority to take over decommissioning and restoration if a project is abandoned, using money from a newly created state fund. These rules apply specifically to ground-mounted solar projects covering at least two acres that connect to the electrical grid, excluding smaller systems used for personal energy needs.
This bill prohibits the construction and operation of new large-scale ground-mounted solar power facilities in Alabama for one year. It directly affects developers, investors, and utility companies planning to build these off-site solar installations. The law defines solar power facilities as ground-mounted photovoltaic panel systems designed to generate electricity for off-site use or sale to third parties. The prohibition applies only to facilities not already operating or under construction when the bill takes effect, which is set to be immediate upon enactment.
This bill prohibits the construction and operation of new large-scale ground-mounted solar power facilities for one year in Alabama counties that border the Gulf of America. The measure defines affected facilities as installations designed to generate electricity for off-site use or sale to third parties, excluding existing projects already under construction or operational when the law takes effect. The restriction applies immediately upon enactment and aims to protect coastal and watershed areas in Gulf-bordering counties.
HB 428 prohibits injecting and storing carbon dioxide in underground wells (including Class VI wells) without approval from the county or municipal governing body where the well is located. It requires applicants to pay a $50,000 fee, submit detailed documentation about their experience, finances, and legal history, and undergo a 45-day public awareness period with community meetings. Local governments must consider environmental impacts, community effects (like property values), infrastructure costs, and alignment with local development when deciding applications, with a 30-day review period after public hearings. The bill directly affects carbon storage companies seeking to build such facilities and gives local communities significant control over site approvals.
HB 531 would exempt contractors working on public highway, road, or bridge construction projects from paying state taxes on natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used during construction. Specifically, it removes utility gross receipts tax, utility service use tax, and state sales and use tax on these fuels for licensed contractors or subcontractors under government contracts. Counties and municipalities may also adopt similar local tax exemptions for the same purpose. The bill, set to take effect on September 1, 2026, applies only to projects funded by governmental entities as defined in Alabama law.
SB 266 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the injection and storage of carbon dioxide in underground wells within Covington County, Alabama. This would directly affect any entity or individual seeking to use underground wells for carbon dioxide storage (including projects involving Class VI wells under federal EPA regulations) in that county. The bill requires voter approval through a statewide election to become part of Alabama's constitution, as it amends the state constitution rather than enacting immediate law. If approved, the prohibition would take effect as a permanent constitutional restriction.
SB 71 prohibits Alabama environmental agencies from creating new rules or amending existing rules that set stricter pollution limits than federal standards for areas like air quality, drinking water, and hazardous waste handling. If no federal standard exists for a specific issue, agencies may only adopt stricter rules if they are based on "best available science" and "weight of scientific evidence," requiring a direct link to proven human health harm. The bill does not affect rules that comply with federal law, are less strict than federal standards, or address emergencies. This directly impacts Alabama's environmental protection agencies and industries regulated under these environmental standards.
HB 61 proposes a constitutional amendment to prohibit the injection and storage of carbon dioxide and nonhazardous fluids in underground wells within Covington County, Alabama. The amendment would specifically apply to activities involving Class V and Class VI wells regulated under federal law. If approved by voters, this change would become part of Alabama’s constitution, requiring future voters to approve such projects in Covington County. The bill is currently pending committee review and requires a statewide vote for adoption.
