KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Alabama

HB618 • 2026

Solar farms; certain county commissions authorized to establish zoning requirements, penalties for violations and appeal process provided

Solar farms; certain county commissions authorized to establish zoning requirements, penalties for violations and appeal process provided

Agriculture Energy Land
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Simpson
Last action
2026-03-17
Official status
Read Second Time in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is October 1, 2026, which means these rules are not active immediately upon passage.

Rules for Solar Farms in Alabama Counties Bordering the Gulf

This law allows county leaders in areas bordering the Gulf of Mexico to create rules about where and how solar farms are built, including setting fines and an appeal process.

What This Bill Does

  • Allows counties that touch the Gulf of Mexico to make zoning rules for solar farms.
  • Lets these counties decide which locations can or cannot have solar farms in unincorporated areas.
  • Sets a maximum fine of $1,000 for breaking the new solar farm rules.
  • Gives county leaders the power to remove illegal structures and charge the landowner for the cost as a lien on the property.
  • Requires an appeal process so people can take unfair decisions about variances to circuit court.

Who It Names or Affects

  • County commissions in Alabama counties that border the Gulf of Mexico
  • Companies or individuals who want to build large solar farms on the ground
  • Landowners whose property is used for a solar farm

Terms To Know

Solar Farm
A large group of panels built on the ground that makes electricity to sell or use at other places.
County Commission
The elected leaders who run a county government in this law, specifically for counties touching the Gulf of Mexico.
Variance Process
A way to ask for special permission or exceptions if the standard rules do not fit your situation.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This law only applies to counties that touch the Gulf of Mexico, not all Alabama counties.
  • The specific rules and fees are up to each county commission to decide later.
  • The text does not say how much money will be raised from permit fees.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-17 House

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  2. 2026-03-17 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 farms; certain county commissions authorized to establish zoning requirements, penalties for violations and appeal process provided

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB618 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB618
EJGXWCC-1
By Representatives Simpson, Givens, Holk-Jones, Fidler, Baker,
Brown, Wilcox, Shirey, Stringer, Bracy
RFD: Transportation, Utilities and Infrastructure
First Read: 12-Mar-26
1
2
3
4
5
6
EJGXWCC-1 03/11/2026 THR (L)ma 2026-1317
Page 1
First Read: 12-Mar-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would authorize certain county
commissions to establish regulations related to the
permitting, construction, placement, or operation of
solar farms.
This bill would also provide penalties for
violations and provide for an appeal process.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to counties and municipalities; to authorize
certain county commission to establish regulations related to
the permitting, construction, placement, or operation of solar
farms; to provide penalties for violations; and to provide for
an appeal process.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
following terms have the following meanings:
(1) COUNTY COMMISSION. The governing body of any county
that borders the Gulf of Mexico.
(2) SOLAR FARM. A large-scale, ground-mounted
installation of photovoltaic panels, arrays, or reflectors
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
HB618 INTRODUCED
Page 2
installation of photovoltaic panels, arrays, or reflectors
designed to generate electricity for sale or use off-site.
(b)(1) In order to protect the coastline and watershed,
a county commission may adopt resolutions to regulate the
permitting, construction, placement, or operation of solar
farms in the county.
(2) A county commission may adopt resolutions
establishing standards, specifications, criteria, and
conditions relating to permitting, construction, placement, or
operation of solar farms in the unincorporated areas of the
county.
(3) A county commission may adopt resolutions to
establish and determine the appropriate locations where solar
farms may be located or allowed or to prohibit the same.
(c)(1) If any building or structure is erected,
constructed, altered, repaired, converted, operated, or
maintained, or if any land is used, in violation of this
section or any resolution adopted pursuant to this section,
the county commission, or any administrative officer
designated by the county commission, may institute any
appropriate action or proceeding to prevent, restrain,
correct, or abate the violation, prevent the use of any
building or structure, or to prevent any illegal act, conduct,
business, or misuse in or upon any premises regulated under
the authority conferred by this section.
(2) A county commission may adopt resolutions providing
for a penalty in the form of a fine of up to one thousand
dollars ($1,000) for any violation of this section or an
ordinance adopted pursuant to this section.
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
HB618 INTRODUCED
Page 3
ordinance adopted pursuant to this section.
(3) Any violation of this section or an ordinance
adopted pursuant to this section shall be a public nuisance.
(4) Upon a finding that a building or structure
violates the provisions of this section or any ordinance
adopted pursuant to this section, the county commission may
remove the building or structure, and all costs of the removal
shall be assessed against the landowner and recorded as a lien
on the property and may be enforced until satisfied.
(d) A county commission may levy permit and
applications fees to administer the resolutions adopted
pursuant to this section. The fees shall cover the cost of
administrative activities and the cost of reviewing
applications, including the costs or fees associated with any
experts or consultants necessary to assist the county in
reviewing applications.
(e) A county commission may adopt resolutions to
determine the terms or conditions of any exceptions or
exemptions from the provisions of this section or any
resolution adopted pursuant to this section. Any resolution
adopted pursuant to this section shall authorize a variance
process and a variance appeals process for any party aggrieved
by a final variance decision of the county commission to
appeal the decision to the circuit court.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026 .
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81