The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to enhance dam safety regulations by establishing the Alabama Dam Safety Program, which will be administered by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency. It requires dam and reservoir owners to obtain agency approval for any construction, modification, or removal of dams or reservoirs. The agency is granted the authority to adopt rules and fees for the program's administration and must submit a program implementation plan to the Governor and Legislature. Key definitions are inserted, including "Agency" for the Emergency Management Agency and "Program" for the Alabama Dam Safety Program, while certain exclusions from the definition of a dam are deleted. The bill also clarifies the definitions of high and significant hazard potential dams and specifies that privately-owned reservoirs are included only if the owner voluntarily participates.

Additionally, the bill mandates that participating owners submit plans for construction and maintenance to the agency, ensuring these plans are prepared by qualified engineers. Dams and reservoirs must be inspected at least once every four years by an engineer, who will certify the inspection and provide a record to the owner. The bill deletes references to local emergency management agencies, transferring responsibilities to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency, which will also adopt rules for program implementation. It specifies that records related to dams and reservoirs will not be public documents and requires the transfer of relevant records from local agencies to the state agency by January 1, 2027. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 33-7-71, 33-7-72, 33-7-73, 33-7-74
Enrolled: 33-7-71, 33-7-72, 33-7-73, 33-7-74