SB169 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Lowell BarronArthur OrrTom Butler

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, tax exemption, Sec. 40-9-34 reenacted, retroactive effect to October 1, 2008

Summary

The bill reenacts and retroactively restores the Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology’s tax exemption, clarifies it wasn’t affected by a 2009 law, and sets reporting and investment requirements in exchange for the exemption.

What This Bill Does

It restores a tax exemption for the Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology and its property from state, county, and municipal taxes, licenses, fees, and charges. In return, the Institute must annually report biotechnology curriculum content for the state’s distance learning program and share new biotech developments for possible inclusion in high school courses. It also requires the Institute to certify investment, employment, and property improvement levels by certain dates, and imposes tax consequences if those requirements aren’t met; for-profit entities on the campus must pay applicable taxes and cannot improperly benefit from the exemption. The bill is retroactive to October 1, 2008, and specifies that the exemption remains in effect only while the distance learning program exists.

Who It Affects

• Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology (a nonprofit) will receive a state tax exemption for itself and its property, but must meet annual reporting and certification requirements and could lose the exemption and owe repaid taxes if requirements are not met.
• For-profit entities leasing or owning property on Hudson-Alpha property will be subject to sales, use, and ad valorem taxes, and property taxes on leased fixtures and equipment, and are barred from receiving the exemption indirectly if they use contributed property for profit.

Key Provisions

• Reenacts Section 40-9-34 to grant a state, county, and municipal tax exemption to the Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology and its property, retroactive to October 1, 2008.
• Exemption applies only while the distance learning biotechnology curriculum program exists; the exemption clarifies it was not affected by Act 2009-144, Sec. 12.
• In exchange for the exemption, the Institute must annually report curricular content and developments in biotechnology to the State Board of Education, the State Course of Study Committee, and the State Textbook Committee.
• The Institute must certify, by September 30, 2008, investment levels (at least $50 million in Alabama property/equipment and at least 100 employees) and for-profit property improvements of at least $5 million on Institute-owned property; for-profit companies contributing property cannot use it in for-profit activities to obtain the exemption.
• If the Institute fails to meet these requirements, all exemptions become void as of October 1, 2008, and the Institute must repay exempt taxes (not already exempt by law) from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2008 in equal yearly installments through October 1, 2018.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Taxation