The bill establishes the Alabama Port Infrastructure Grant Program and the Alabama Port Infrastructure Fund, amending several sections of the Code of Alabama 1975. Key insertions include definitions for "Department" as the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA), "Fund" as the Alabama Port Infrastructure Fund, and "Program" as the Alabama Port Infrastructure Grant Program. The program will provide grants for the improvement, maintenance, and construction of ports and intermodal facilities, with requirements for local matching funds and grant limits, while explicitly stating that funding cannot be used for routine maintenance or operational expenses. The Alabama Port Infrastructure Fund will be created within the State Treasury, administered by ADECA, and funded through annual appropriations from the State General Fund, increasing the funding amount from $2 million to $5 million.

Additionally, the bill replaces the "Inland Ports and Intermodal Development Fund" with a more general "fund" and stipulates that unexpended funds at the end of the fiscal year will remain in the fund instead of reverting to the State General Fund. It caps administrative expenses at no more than ten percent of the total appropriated amount for the program in any fiscal year and mandates an annual report from ADECA detailing grants awarded and improvements made. The bill clarifies that it does not affect existing state agencies controlling local port or infrastructure commissions and preserves current laws governing these entities, ensuring that no fees, funds, or grants entitled to these commissions can be diverted. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 41-23-130, 41-23-131, 41-23-132, 41-23-133, 41-23-134
Engrossed: 41-23-130, 41-23-131, 41-23-132, 41-23-133, 41-23-134