Under existing law, a county may establish an agriculture authority to construct and operate facilities to promote agricultural businesses, operations, commodities, workforce development, and economic development in the county. Also under existing law, economic development organizations may receive incentives for certain projects undertaken in this state for the betterment of this state's economy. This bill would provide for the creation of the Agriculture Exhibition Center Corporation to operate the Alabama Farm Center and vest the corporation with certain powers and privileges. This bill would provide for the composition and operation of a board of directors to govern the corporation. This bill would permit certain counties and municipalities to sell property and appropriate public funds to the corporation. This bill would permit the corporation to allow the consumption of alcohol on the center's premises. This bill would exempt the corporation and its property from municipal ordinances and rules. This bill would exempt the corporation and its property from certain state, county, and municipal taxes. This bill would provide that the Alabama Farm Center is an economic development organization for the purposes of the Growing Alabama Act.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40-9-14, 40-9-60