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HB617 • 2026

Solar power facilities; new facilities prohibited for one year

Solar power facilities; new facilities prohibited for one year

Energy
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Simpson
Last action
2026-04-01
Official status
Read Second Time in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status indicates the bill passed both chambers, but the effective date is listed as 'immediately' in Section 2 without a specific calendar date provided in the text.

HB617: One-Year Ban on New Large Solar Power Facilities

This bill stops the building and running of new large solar power plants in Alabama for one year.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines a 'solar power facility' as a large-scale, ground-mounted system designed to generate electricity for use off-site or sale to others.
  • Prohibits the construction and operation of any new solar power facilities that are not already operating or under construction when the law starts.
  • Includes all equipment needed to run these plants and send out their electricity in the ban.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Companies planning to build large, ground-mounted solar farms
  • Businesses selling or using off-site electricity from new solar facilities

Terms To Know

Solar power facility
A large-scale, ground-mounted set of panels designed to make electricity for sale or use at a different location.
Effective date
The day the law officially starts and becomes active immediately upon passage.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This ban does not apply to solar projects already built or under construction when the law takes effect.
  • The text does not specify what happens after the one-year period ends.
  • The bill does not mention penalties for breaking this rule.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

QNDIA44-1

Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

Plain English: This amendment stops the building and running of new large solar farms in Alabama counties along the Gulf Coast for one year to protect local water areas.

  • It defines a 'solar power facility' as a big, ground-mounted set of panels that makes electricity to sell or send elsewhere.
  • For one year after this law starts, no new solar facilities can be built in any county touching the Gulf Coast if they were not already working or being built on that day.
  • The text does not explain exactly what steps will happen to projects that are stopped by this rule.
  • It is unclear how officials will decide which counties officially 'border' the Gulf Coast for this law.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-01 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  2. 2026-04-01 House

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  3. 2026-03-12 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  4. 2026-03-12 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure

Official Summary Text

Solar power facilities; new facilities prohibited for one year

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB617 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB617
CXU4NWW-1
By Representatives Simpson, Givens, Holk-Jones, Fidler, Baker,
Brown, Shirey, Stringer, Bracy
RFD: Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure
First Read: 12-Mar-26
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CXU4NWW-1 03/11/2026 THR (L)ma 2026-1318
Page 1
First Read: 12-Mar-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would prohibit the construction and
operation of new solar power facilities for one year.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to solar power; to prohibit the construction
and operation of new solar power facilities for one year.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For purposes of this section, the term
"solar power facility" means a large-scale, ground-mounted
installation of photovoltaic panels that are designed to
generate electricity using solar power for use off-site or
sale to a third party , including all equipment and facilities
required to operate the facility and transmit generated
electricity.
(b) For one year after the effective date of this act,
a solar power facility not operating or under construction on
the effective date of this act may not be constructed or
operated.
Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately.
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