HB 92 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

State waters; Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force established to address seagrass loss

HB 92 establishes the Alabama Seagrass Restoration Task Force to address declining seagrass beds in state waters. The task force will develop a restoration plan recommending specific tools, approaches, and technologies to reverse seagrass loss. This bill directly affects Alabama's coastal ecosystems and communities reliant on healthy marine environments. The plan must be developed within the task force's framework, with the bill set to take effect October 1, 2025. The task force is currently pending committee review in the House of Representatives.

Issues: ✓ Environment

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 24, 2025 Last action Mar 18, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Feb 18, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was amended to clarify the Task Force's role in developing a restoration plan, which now focuses on recommending tools and technologies rather than administering them. The amendment also added provisions for appointing new members to fill vacancies and ensuring diverse representation on the Task Force. Additionally, the bill was renumbered and formatted to reflect its status as an engrossed version ready for final passage.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the Task Force's duty from developing and administering a restoration plan to developing a plan that recommends tools, approaches, and technologies for restoration.

Added a provision requiring the appointing authority to fill any vacancy on the Task Force.

Added a requirement for appointing authorities to coordinate appointments to ensure diverse representation based on race, gender, geography, urban/rural status, and economic background.

TECHNICAL

Updated bill numbering and formatting to reflect the engrossed version status after passage.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (County and Municipal Government)

upper

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 169

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 168

lower

Feb 18, 2025

Introduced

Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit Engrossed Substitute Offered (Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit)

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit)

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Introduced

Ports, Waterways & Intermodal Transit 1st Amendment (Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit)

lower

Feb 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ports, Waterways and Intermodal Transit)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors