Transportation (Rail)

HB 135 creates the Alabama Port Infrastructure Grant Program under the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs to fund improvements at publicly owned inland ports and transportation hubs connecting different shipping methods (like rail and barge). It allocates $5 million annually starting in 2026 for competitive grants, requiring 20% local matching funds and limiting state funding to 50% of project costs. The program prioritizes projects that reduce highway congestion, boost port tonnage, and enhance regional competitiveness, while explicitly excluding routine maintenance, administrative costs, and new port construction without prior feasibility studies. Funding must directly support capital improvements, dredging near existing ports, or infrastructure development outside normal operating budgets.

HB 190 extends Alabama's Railroad Rehabilitation Tax Credit program through 2032, increasing the annual credit cap from $3.7 million to $4.5 million and raising the per-mile credit amount from $3,500 to $4,100. It directly affects railroad companies owning or leasing track in Alabama by allowing them to claim tax credits covering 50% of eligible rehabilitation costs, with credits transferable at 85% value. The program is funded through sales tax revenues in the Education Trust Fund, with specific annual limits on total credits issued across the extended period.