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HB 38ALABAMASession 2026rsState BillBecame law

Enacted

Alabama creates Seagrass Restoration Task Force to rebuild coastal marine ecosystems

Original title: State waters; Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force established to remediate seagrass loss within state marine waters

Last action · March 9, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Chip Brown

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓

Introduced

Committee

Floor Vote

Passed

Law

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What This Bill Does

Alabama establishes the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force to develop new restoration technologies and a 10-year recovery plan for state marine waters, effective October 1, 2026.

Why it matters

The measure sets up a 10-year statewide blueprint and collaborative network to address ecological and economic losses stemming from declining coastal seagrass, designating the Dauphin Island Sea Lab as .

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

Dauphin Island Sea Lab

Serves as fiscal agent and provides staff, meeting space, and administrative support for the task force.

Directly affected

Commercial and Marine Enterprises

Participates through an appointed representative on the task force to address coastal ecosystem changes.

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 is the primary goal of the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force?

The task force is established to lead and expedite formulating, testing, and developing innovative and sustainable technologies to restore coastal seagrass ecosystems and to create a 10-year restoration plan.

Who manages the funds allocated to the task force?

The Dauphin Island Sea Lab serves as the for all funds appropriated to the task force.

When must the task force hold its first meeting?

The initial meeting of the task force must be called by the cochairs and held by January 1, 2027.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Votes, people, money & the original source

Where This Stands

Current status: Became law.

Procedural history

25 actions

Mar 9, 2026HouseEnrolled
Enacted
Feb 25, 2026HouseEnrolled
Delivered to Governor
Feb 25, 2026Senate
Signature Requested
Feb 25, 2026House
Enrolled
Feb 25, 2026House
Ready to Enroll
Feb 25, 2026House
Brown Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 594

Show 19 earlier actions

Feb 12, 2026SenateFloor
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 386
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Sessions motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 385
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry 1st Amendment Offered
Feb 12, 2026Senate
Third Reading in Second House
Jan 29, 2026Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Jan 28, 2026SenateCommittee
Reported Out of Committee Second House
Jan 28, 2026Senate
Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry 1st Amendment
Jan 27, 2026SenateCommittee
Pending Committee Action in Second House
Jan 27, 2026SenateIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
Jan 22, 2026House
Engrossed
Jan 22, 2026HouseFloor
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 141
Jan 22, 2026House
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 140
Jan 22, 2026House
Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit Engrossed Substitute Offered
Jan 22, 2026House
Third Reading in House of Origin
Jan 14, 2026House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
Jan 14, 2026House
Reported Out Committee House of Origin-- Committee Amendment
Jan 13, 2026HouseCommittee
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit

Version history

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

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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.

Connected Entities

Mobile County Commission, Lieutenant Governor, Dauphin Island Sea Lab and 7 more

OrganizationMobile County Commission“Appoints one task force member.”Map →

PersonLieutenant Governor“Appoints a marine environmental organization member.”Map →

OrganizationDauphin Island Sea Lab“Serves as cochair and fiscal agent for task force funds.”Map →

OrganizationAlabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force“Newly established task force to lead seagrass and sea oats restoration efforts.”Map →

PersonGovernor“Appoints a member from a private commercial enterprise.”Map →

PersonPresident Pro Tempore of the Senate“Appoints a university representative to the task force.”Map →

OrganizationMobile Bay National Estuary Program“The Director serves on the task force.”Map →

PersonSpeaker of the House of Representatives“Appoints a marine environmental organization member.”Map →

OrganizationBaldwin County Commission“Appoints one task force member.”Map →

OrganizationUniversity of South Alabama“The President serves as a task force cochair.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100

Significance60
How much this matters to a regular citizen
Controversy10
Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
Entertainment5
Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
Buzz25
Current news / social attention level

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