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SB354 • 2026

Solar power facilities; new facilities prohibited for one year

Solar power facilities; new facilities prohibited for one year

Energy Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Albritton
Last action
2026-04-07
Official status
Passed by House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and digest do not provide specific details on the public hearings requirement or limitations on local government regulations, only that they are subject to conditions.

Ban on New Solar Power Facilities for One Year

This act prohibits the construction and operation of new solar power facilities in certain counties near the Gulf of America for one year, subject to conditions.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits the building or starting up of any new solar power facility that is not already under construction or operating within a year after the law takes effect.
  • Requires public hearings before constructing new solar facilities in counties near the Gulf of America if they are not already under construction or operational.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People and companies planning to build new solar power facilities.
  • Local government bodies that make regulations on solar power facilities.

Terms To Know

Solar Power Facility
A large-scale, ground-mounted installation of photovoltaic panels designed to generate electricity using solar power for off-site use or sale to a third party, including all equipment and facilities required to operate the facility.
Under Construction
Construction has begun pursuant to Internal Revenue Service regulations adopted under 26 U.S.C. §§ 45Y and 48E defining beginning of construction and any other federal guidelines.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The ban only applies to counties contiguous to the Gulf of America.
  • It does not specify an effective date, so it is unclear when exactly this law will start.

Amendments

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

XDCTT77-1

R 1165 • Singleton

Adopted

Plain English: XDCTT77-1 : 4/7/2026 : ZAK 1ST SINGLETON AMENDMENT TO SB354 OFFERED BY SENATOR SINGLETON Page 1 Replace line 14 on page 1 with the following: and operation of new solar power facilities for one year, subject to conditions.

  • XDCTT77-1 : 4/7/2026 : ZAK 1ST SINGLETON AMENDMENT TO SB354 OFFERED BY SENATOR SINGLETON Page 1 Replace line 14 on page 1 with the following: and operation of new solar power facilities for one year, subject to conditions.
  • Replace lines 16 through 17 on page 1 with the following: Section 1.
  • (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) SOLAR POWER FACILITY.
  • A large-scale, ground-mounted Replace line 22 on page 1 with the following: electricity.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
XDCH5ZZ-1

R 1166 • Carnley

Adopted

Plain English: XDCH5ZZ-1 : 4/7/2026 : ZAK 1ST CARNLEY AMENDMENT TO SB354 OFFERED BY SENATOR CARNLEY Page 1 Replace line 14 on page 1 with the following: and operation of new solar power facilities and carbon dioxide storage facilities for one year, subject to conditions.

  • XDCH5ZZ-1 : 4/7/2026 : ZAK 1ST CARNLEY AMENDMENT TO SB354 OFFERED BY SENATOR CARNLEY Page 1 Replace line 14 on page 1 with the following: and operation of new solar power facilities and carbon dioxide storage facilities for one year, subject to conditions.
  • Replace lines 16 through 17 on page 1 with the following: Section 1.
  • (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings: (1) SOLAR POWER FACILITY.
  • A large-scale, ground-mounted Replace line 22 on page 1 with the following: electricity.
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.
PSPF6EG-1

V • Albritton

Adopted

Plain English: PSPF6EG-1 : 3/11/2026 : ZAK 1ST TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY AMENDMENT TO SB354 OFFERED BY SENATOR LIVINGSTON Page 1 Replace line 26 on page 1 with the following: operated.

  • PSPF6EG-1 : 3/11/2026 : ZAK 1ST TRANSPORTATION AND ENERGY AMENDMENT TO SB354 OFFERED BY SENATOR LIVINGSTON Page 1 Replace line 26 on page 1 with the following: operated.
  • (c) This section does not apply to any area of the state served by the Tennessee Valley Authority due to the authority's distinctive regulatory authority and transmission and distribution infrastructure.
  • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1167 (Yeas 27, Nays 4)

  2. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Carnley motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1166 (Yeas 17, Nays 12)

  3. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Singleton motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1165 (Yeas 33, Nays 0)

  4. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Carnley 1st Amendment Offered

  5. 2026-04-07 Senate

    Singleton 1st Amendment Offered

  6. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 27, Nays 0)

  7. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Carried Over

  8. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Albritton motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

  9. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Transportation and Energy 1st Amendment Offered

  10. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  11. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Transportation and Energy 1st Amendment

  12. 2026-03-11 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  13. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  14. 2026-03-10 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy

Official Summary Text

Solar power facilities; new facilities prohibited for one year

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB354 ENGROSSED
Page 0
SB354
6Y9Q91Z-2
By Senators Albritton, Elliott
RFD: Transportation and Energy
First Read: 10-Mar-26
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SB354 Engrossed
Page 1
First Read: 10-Mar-26
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to solar power; to prohibit the construction
and operation of new solar power facilities and carbon dioxide
storage facilities for one year, subject to conditions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For purposes of this section, the
following terms have the following meanings:
(1)SOLAR POWER FACILITY. 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.
(2) UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Construction of a solar power
facility has begun pursuant to Internal Revenue Service
regulations adopted pursuant to 26 U.S.C. §§ 45Y and 48E
defining beginning of construction and any other regulations,
procedures, or other published information or guidance
pursuant to that federal law.
(b) For one year after the effective date of this act,
a solar power facility not operating or under construction on
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SB354 Engrossed
Page 2
a solar power facility not operating or under construction on
the effective date of this act may not be constructed or
operated unless a proposed solar power facility operator holds
a public hearing, after 30 days notice, on the proposed solar
power facility in the county in which the proposed solar power
facility will be located.
(c) This act shall only apply to counties contiguous to
the Gulf of America due to the significant population
increases therein, limited availability of suitable real
property, and need to protect the unique environmental aspects
of river deltas and the gulf.
(d) For one year after the effective date of this act,
the governing body of a county, municipality, or other
political subdivision of this state may not adopt an
ordinance, regulation, or other policy related to a proposed
or existing solar power facility that is more stringent than
the requirements of this section.
Section 2. (a) For purposes of this section, the term
"carbon dioxide storage facility" shall mean a storage
facility used for the storage and sequestration of carbon
dioxide, as contemplated in Article 6, Chapter 17, Title 9,
Code of Alabama 1975, which is located on public land or which
is 50,000 acres or more in size.
(b) For one year after the effective date of this act,
a carbon dioxide storage facility not operating or under
construction on the effective date of this act may not be
constructed or operated.
Section 3. This act shall become effective immediately.
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SB354 Engrossed
Page 3
Section 3. This act shall become effective immediately.
Senate
Read for the first time and referred
to the Senate committee on
Transportation and Energy
................10-Mar-26
Read for the second time and placed
on the calendar:
1 amendment
................11-Mar-26
Read for the third time and passed
as amended
Yeas 27
Nays 4
Abstains 0
................07-Apr-26
Patrick Harris,
Secretary.
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