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SB 174ALABAMASession 2026rsState BillBecame law
Enacted

Alabama Authorizes Converting Oil and Gas Wells into Alternative Energy Facilities and Expands State Land Leasing

Original title: Natural resources; conversion of oil and gas wells into alternative energy facilities authorized; lease of state lands for energy sources by Commissioner of Conservation expanded

Last action · April 16, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Greg Albritton

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Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
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What This Bill Does

Alabama law now allows the State Oil and Gas Board to authorize and regulate alternative energy facilities, including converting existing oil and gas wells that extend 5,000 feet or more below the surface. Operators must obtain consent from at least 66 and 2/3 percent of resource owners, pay permit and petition fees, and maintain financial security. Additionally, the Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources is authorized to lease state lands for broader energy sources and modify lease renewal terms.

Why it matters

Property owners, energy developers, and coal mine operators face new regulatory frameworks, consent thresholds, and amalgamation rules for subsurface alternative energy development across Alabama.

Background
  • The State Oil and Gas Board regulates oil, gas, and geothermal operations in Alabama under Title 9 of the Code of Alabama. context
  • The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources manages state-owned public lands and natural resources. context

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Alternative energy facility operators

Operators must pay fees, maintain financial security, adhere to board rules, obtain resource owner consents, and properly plug abandoned facilities.

Directly affected

Alternative energy resource owners

Owners may give consent, face amalgamation of their resources into a facility upon 66 and 2/3 percent threshold approval, and receive equitable compensation.

Directly affected

Coal mine operators

Operators with facilities proposed within a 10-mile radius of a coal mine must provide written consent.

Directly affected

State Oil and Gas Board

The board gains authority to regulate, permit, set fees, and issue amalgamation orders for alternative energy facilities and conversion wells.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

What depth must an alternative energy well reach to be authorized under this act?
Any alternative energy well must extend 5,000 feet or more below the surface of the land, regardless of whether the land is submerged.
What percentage of resource owner consent is required before the board can order amalgamation?
An operator must obtain the consent of persons that own not less than 66 and two-thirds percent of the facility's alternative energy resources.
Where do the permit and petition fees collected under this act go?
All well permit fees, filing fees for petitions, and other fees are paid into the Alabama State Oil and Gas Board Special Fund.
Does this act apply to existing oil and gas wells that are converted?
Yes, oil and gas wells and associated infrastructure can be converted into alternative energy facilities, and once approved, they are no longer considered inactive or abandoned oil or gas wells.

What else do you want to know?

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Where This Stands

Current status: Became law.

Procedural history

27 actions
  1. Apr 16, 2026SenateEnrolled
    Enacted
  2. Apr 9, 2026SenateEnrolled
    Delivered to Governor
  3. Apr 9, 2026House
    Signature Requested
  4. Apr 9, 2026Senate
    Enrolled
  5. Apr 9, 2026Senate
    Ready to Enroll
  6. Apr 9, 2026House
    Paramore Motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1348
Show 21 earlier actions
  1. Apr 8, 2026Senate
    Albritton motion to Concur In and Adopt Conference Committee Report - Adopted Roll Call 1257
  2. Apr 8, 2026Senate
    Senate Concurs in Conference Committee Report
  3. Apr 7, 2026House
    In Conference Committee
  4. Apr 7, 2026Senate
    Gudger motion to Non-Concur and Appoint Conference Committee - Adopted Roll Call 1129
  5. Apr 2, 2026HouseFloor
    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1171
  6. Apr 2, 2026House
    Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1170
  7. Apr 2, 2026House
    Hammett 1st Amendment Offered
  8. Apr 2, 2026House
    Third Reading in Second House
  9. Feb 12, 2026House
    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
  10. Feb 11, 2026HouseCommittee
    Reported Out of Committee Second House
  11. Feb 3, 2026HouseCommittee
    Pending Committee Action in Second House
  12. Feb 3, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government
  13. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Engrossed
  14. Feb 3, 2026SenateFloor
    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 228
  15. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Woods motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 227
  16. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Woods 1st Amendment Offered
  17. Feb 3, 2026Senate
    Third Reading in House of Origin
  18. Jan 22, 2026Senate
    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
  19. Jan 22, 2026SenateCommittee
    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
  20. Jan 20, 2026SenateCommittee
    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
  21. Jan 20, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Transportation and Energy

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Greg AlbrittonSenate · District 22RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Discoveries

1 pattern noticed across the record

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift95% confidence

Expansion of Subsurface Energy Regulations

The legislation broadens the scope of the State Oil and Gas Board from traditional oil and gas to encompass deep alternative energy wells and resource amalgamation.

State Oil and Gas Board

Connected Entities

State Treasurer, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Commissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources and 3 more
OrganizationState Treasurer“Receives permit fees and filing fees paid under this act.”Map →
OrganizationFederal Energy Regulatory Commission“Holds licensing jurisdiction over hydropower projects exempt from this act.”Map →
PersonCommissioner of Conservation and Natural Resources“Authorized to lease state lands for energy sources and modify renewal terms.”Map →
OrganizationDepartment of Conservation and Natural Resources“Holds jurisdiction over state lands that may be leased for energy exploration an”Map →
OrganizationState Oil and Gas Board“Regulates alternative energy wells and facilities, issues permits, and adopts ru”Map →
OrganizationAlabama State Oil and Gas Board Special Fund“Fund where well permit and petition fees are deposited to defray board expenses.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance75
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy35
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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