The Alabama Tourism Tax Protection Act of 2024 establishes new regulations regarding the transient occupancy tax, specifically focusing on the roles of accommodations intermediaries and providers. The bill defines key terms such as "accommodations intermediary," which refers to entities that facilitate lodging transactions and charge fees for their services, and "accommodations provider," which includes those who directly rent accommodations and are responsible for tax collection. The act mandates that accommodations intermediaries collect and remit the transient occupancy tax for transactions occurring on or after January 1, 2025, and specifies that the tax must be clearly stated on customer invoices.

Additionally, the bill outlines exemptions for certain entities, including professional property management companies and hotels that already collect and remit the tax. It also designates professional property management companies as the "merchant of record" for transactions where they oversee accommodations. The Department of Revenue is tasked with creating rules for the act's implementation, which is set to take effect on October 1, 2024. The bill introduces new legal language while deleting outdated provisions to streamline the tax collection process and enhance compliance within the tourism sector.