Etowah County local constitutional amendment; Whorton Bend Agricultural Protection Act created; boundaries defined; certain activities permitted or prohibited within protected area; exemptions

HB 349 proposes a constitutional amendment to create the Whorton Bend Agricultural Protection Act in Etowah County, Alabama. It defines the boundaries of the Whorton Bend Community area (a peninsula along the Coosa River) and prohibits new commercial, industrial, or high-density residential development that would interfere with agriculture or environmental protections. The bill allows existing agricultural operations, farm-related businesses (like equipment storage or produce stands), and pre-existing commercial structures to continue operating, while banning new multifamily housing, apartment complexes, and projects that alter wetlands or riverbanks. This directly affects landowners and developers within the defined area by restricting future development to preserve the region's farming and environmental character.