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SB369 • 2026

Lauderdale County; Economic Development Authority and Economic Development Authority Fund established, county commission authorized to levy additional sales and use tax

Lauderdale County; Economic Development Authority and Economic Development Authority Fund established, county commission authorized to levy additional sales and use tax

Taxes
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Melson
Last action
2026-03-31
Official status
Pending Committee Action in Second House
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details about the duties and responsibilities of the board members, which were included in the candidate explanation.

Lauderdale County Economic Development Authority and Tax

This bill establishes the Lauderdale County Economic Development Authority, sets up a fund for economic development projects, and allows the county commission to levy an additional sales tax.

What This Bill Does

  • Creates the Lauderdale County Economic Development Authority to assist existing businesses and attract new ones.
  • Sets up a board of directors with five members appointed by the county commission for four-year terms.
  • Allows the authority to hire an executive director, receive donations, and be audited by the state.
  • Establishes the Lauderdale County Economic Development Authority Fund to hold money used for economic development projects.
  • Gives the county commission permission to add up to a 0.75% sales tax, with proceeds going into the new fund.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Lauderdale County residents and businesses
  • The Lauderdale County Economic Development Authority

Terms To Know

Economic Development Authority
A group set up to help grow the local economy by supporting existing businesses and attracting new ones.
Sales Tax
Money collected from people when they buy goods or services, used here to fund economic development projects in Lauderdale County.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how the tax money will be spent.
  • It is unclear what happens if the county commission decides not to levy the additional sales tax.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 970 (Yeas 30, Nays 0)

  2. 2026-03-31 Senate

    Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 29, Nays 0)

  3. 2026-03-31 House

    Pending Committee Action in Second House

  4. 2026-03-31 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Local Legislation

  5. 2026-03-19 Senate

    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

  6. 2026-03-19 Senate

    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

  7. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  8. 2026-03-17 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Local Legislation

Official Summary Text

Lauderdale County; Economic Development Authority and Economic Development Authority Fund established, county commission authorized to levy additional sales and use tax

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
SB369 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB369
FKSMQD5-1
By Senator Melson (N & P)
RFD: Local Legislation
First Read: 17-Mar-26
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FKSMQD5-1 02/09/2026 THR (L)THR 2026-517
Page 1
First Read: 17-Mar-26
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to Lauderdale County; to create the Lauderdale
County Economic Development Authority; to provide for the
authority's board; to authorize the county commission to levy
an additional sales and use tax; to provide for the
administration and proceeds of the tax; and to create the
Lauderdale County Economic Development Authority Fund.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) There is created the Lauderdale County
Economic Development Authority. The authority is created for
the purpose and has the responsibility of aiding and assisting
current industries an retail establishments and coordinating
the efforts of all municipal and county agencies of Lauderdale
County as well as aiding organizations in the development of
new industries and retail establishments which will provide
job opportunities for the residents of Lauderdale County.
(b)(1) The authority shall be governed by a board of
directors consisting of five members. All five members shall
be appointed by the county commission. Vacancies on the board
shall be appointed by the same appointing authority that made
the initial appointment.
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SB369 INTRODUCED
Page 2
the initial appointment.
(2) Each member shall serve for a term of four years.
Before August 1, 2026, the appointing authorities shall submit
in writing the name and address of the members of the board of
directors to the judge of probate and a record of the
appointments shall be filed and maintained in the office of
the judge of probate.
(3) The members shall elect from among themselves a
president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Each
officer of the board shall serve for a period of one year, or
until a successor is elected to serve. The officers of the
board shall not be bonded, except the treasurer, who shall
obtain a bond in a reasonable amount.
(4) The members of the board shall receive the same per
diem and mileage for actual attendance of meetings of the
board as allowed for state employees for up to 12 meetings in
any one year.
(c)(1) The authority may employ a qualified executive
director who shall be responsible for carrying forth the
policies and directives of the board of directors. The
executive director shall serve at the pleasure of the board.
The board of directors shall set the salary of the executive
director and shall provide necessary office space and clerical
help.
(2) The authority may solicit and receive contributions
from other governmental entities and public or private
corporations, partnerships, or individuals. The authority
shall submit to audits by the Department of Examiners of
Public Accounts.
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SB369 INTRODUCED
Page 3
Public Accounts.
(d)(1) There is created the Lauderdale County Economic
Development Authority Fund.
(2) The Lauderdale County Economic Development
Authority Board of Trustees may expend the monies in the fund
for any lawful purpose that complies with the purposes of
subsection (a).
(e)(1) The Lauderdale County Commission may levy an
additional sales and use tax of up to three-quarters of one
percent on sales, use, storage, consumption, or gross
receipts.
(2) The gross receipts of any business and the gross
proceeds of all sales and use of products or services which
are presently exempt under the state sales and use tax
statutes are exempt from the taxes authorized by this section.
(3) The proceeds of any tax levied pursuant to this
subsection shall be deposited in the Lauderdale County
Economic Development Authority Fund.
(4) Any tax levied pursuant to this subsection shall be
administered in the same manner as the tax established in
Subpart 2 of Part 6 of Article 24 of Chapter 39 of Title 45,
Code of Alabama 1975.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026 .
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