The bill amends Section 9-12-125 of the Code of Alabama 1975, primarily to increase the seafood dealer licensure fee from $200 to $400 for Alabama residents and from $400 to $600 for non-residents. It also introduces a provision that requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to remit $200 from each seafood dealer license fee collected to the nonprofit corporation Sweet Grown Alabama, which is tasked with promoting the state's seafood products. Additionally, the bill makes several technical revisions to update the existing code language, including changes to the terminology used for seafood dealers and the requirements for obtaining a license.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that non-resident seafood dealers are not required to obtain a license when buying from or selling to licensed Alabama seafood dealers or commercial fishermen. It also specifies that restaurants do not need a license to sell seafood for consumption but must purchase seafood only from licensed sellers. The penalties for selling seafood without a license have been updated, establishing a Class A misdemeanor with escalating fines for repeat offenses. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 9-12-125, 9-12-125
Engrossed: 9-12-125, 9-12-125