Agriculture authorities; authorized to terminate or move easements via eminent domain

Relating to Agriculture, to amend Sections 2-8-126, 2-8-128, 2-8-131, 2-8-133, 2-8-134, 2-8-135, and 2-8-323, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise the requirements for giving notice of a referendum on an assessment to be used to promote peanuts specifically as well as other nuts, bulbs, fruits, and vegetables; to revise the time an assessment on the sale of nuts, bulbs, fruits, or vegetables is effective between referendums; to revise the percentage the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries may deduct from the sum of the assessment on nuts, bulbs, fruit, and vegetables; to revise the length of time between audits of an organization certified to conduct a referendum regarding an assessment on the sale of sheep and goats; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Relating to the Alabama Forestry Commission; to establish the Rural Logging Efficiency Act of 2023; to create the Logging Efficiency Grant Fund to be administered by the Alabama Forestry Commission; and to provide for the distribution of funding to the Alabama Forestry Commission to support rural economic development.

Relating to surplus state property; to authorize the State Forester to sell surplus personal property owned by the Alabama Forestry Commission

Relating to agriculture authorities; to amend Section 11-20-71, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize the board of directors of an authority to appoint former members of the board as directors emeritus to serve as goodwill ambassadors of the board; and to amend Section 11-20-80, Code of Alabama 1975, to exempt certain agricultural authorities from municipal ordinances or regulations without the consent of the authority.

Relating to livestock; to amend Section 3-5-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that no municipal governing body may adopt or continue in effect any ordinance, rule, resolution, or directive that prohibits a person from permitting their livestock or animals to run at large on the premises of another or public land which does not require the same mens rea as state law; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Relating to natural resources; to prohibit a person from introducing or placing fish into the waters of the state without a permit issued by the Commissioner of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources; to provide exceptions; to require the commissioner to issue a permit for the introduction of black bass into the Coosa River in certain circumstances; to provide for penalties; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.

Relating to acquisition of title to real property; to prohibit certain governments or governmental entities from acquiring certain real property in the state.

Sales and use tax, agricultural products, producer value added agricultural products exempt from sales tax, Sec. 40-23-1, 40-23-4 am'd.

Taxation, grain bins exempt from ad valorem taxation, Sec. 40-9-1 am'd.

Counties, license taxes, prohibited on farmers

Coosa Co., Forever Wild Land Trust property, certain percentage of available on a marketplace for carbon credits, any income received to be credited to General Fund of Coosa Co., const. amend.

Relating to consumption of fishes; to require the State Health Officer to issue advisories concerning fish consumption and to establish a panel to advise on and discuss this issue; to require the Department of Environmental Management to test fishes for pollutants and post signage at water bodies notifying of an active fish consumption advisory; to require the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to notify fish license purchasers of all active advisories; and to require holders of National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits to post signage identifying outfalls.

Deer hunting, commercial deer hunting operation licensing program, established, licenses and licensing fees, special hunting seasons, Conservation and Natural Resources Dept. to enforce and adopt rules, criminal penalties for violations

Agriculture and Industries, Commissioner, salary set beginning the next term of office, Sec. 2-2-5 am'd.