Housing (Property Development)

HB 510 expands the authority of industrial development boards in Alabama's Class 2 municipalities (populations 5,000-20,000). It grants these boards the power to issue bonds, finance projects through loans or grants, and manage development projects like buildings, housing, and infrastructure to advance economic growth. Specifically, boards can now use bond proceeds or other funds to construct, improve, or lease facilities for industrial, commercial, or residential use, provided they align with public purposes like job creation or eliminating blighted properties. The bill applies to both existing and newly formed boards in Class 2 municipalities, effective October 1, 2026.

HB 349 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Whorton Bend Agricultural Protection Act in Etowah County, Alabama. It defines the boundaries of the Whorton Bend Community area (a peninsula along the Coosa River) and prohibits new commercial, industrial, or high-density residential development that would interfere with agriculture or environmental protections. The bill allows existing agricultural operations, farm-related businesses (like equipment storage or produce stands), and pre-existing commercial structures to continue operating, while banning new multifamily housing, apartment complexes, and projects that alter wetlands or riverbanks. This directly affects landowners and developers within the defined area by restricting future development to preserve the region's farming and environmental character.