Taxation; Energy use in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses, exempt from utility gross receipts and utility service use tax
HB 244 exempts electricity and natural gas used in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses from Alabama’s utility gross receipts tax and utility service use tax. This directly affects agricultural businesses operating these facilities by reducing their energy-related tax burden. The bill amends Alabama tax code sections to explicitly add these uses to existing exemptions, clarifying that energy used for heating or operation in these specific agricultural settings is not subject to the taxes. The change takes effect September 1, 2026, and does not alter tax rates for other energy uses.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2026
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Jan 14, 2026
Last action Feb 25, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
Introduced
→
Engrossed
·
4 edits
·
Feb 24, 2026
MODERATE
The bill was updated to include specific exclusions for using electricity or natural gas in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses from utility taxes. However, the bill also added a new restriction stating that these tax exemptions do not apply to the production of industrial hemp or cannabis. Additionally, a new exclusion was added for electricity used in uranium enrichment processes.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to explicitly exempt agricultural heating in greenhouses, irrigation systems, and poultry houses, but it simultaneously narrowed the scope by excluding industrial hemp and cannabis production from these same exemptions.
ELIGIBILITY
Added an exemption for natural gas or electricity used as fuel in commercial greenhouses, pivot irrigation systems, and poultry houses.
Added a restriction preventing the above exemption from applying to industrial hemp or cannabis production.
Added an exemption for electricity purchased from subsidiaries used for uranium isotopic enrichment.
TECHNICAL
Updated bill identifiers, page headers, and formatting to reflect the engrossed version.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the House by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
11
Key actions
5
Committee
3
Amendments
2
Feb 25, 2026
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation Education)
upper
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 556
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 555
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Introduced
Ways and Means Education Engrossed Substitute Offered (Ways and Means Education)
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Ways and Means Education)
lower
Jan 14, 2026
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means Education)
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Danny Crawford
RRepublican
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