HB298 Alabama 2011 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jeremy OdenAlabama Public Service Commission
Republican
Co-Sponsors: Howard Sanderford Phil Williams Micky Hammon Greg Wren Alan Boothe Terri Collins Barry Moore Mike Hubbard Wes Long Becky Nordgren Kurt Wallace Donnie Chesteen Ken Johnson Wayne Johnson Barry Mask Steve Clouse Todd Greeson Randy Davis Mike Hill Mac McCutcheon Gregory Canfield Victor Gaston Mike Ball Harry Shiver Joe Faust Chad Fincher Alan Baker Steve McMillan Jim McClendon Randy Wood Mike Jones
Session: Regular Session 2011
Title: Alabama Development Office and Director of Development changed to Commerce Department and Secretary of Commerce, assistant secretaries of commerce, employment of certain persons outside of Merit System, authorized, Secs. 41-9-201, 41-9-202, 41-9-202.1, 41-9-203, 41-9-204 am'd. (2011-20679)
Summary: HB298 renames the Alabama Development Office to the Department of Commerce, designates the head as Secretary of Commerce, renames assistant directors to assistant secretaries, and allows hiring outside the Merit System.
What This Bill Does
It reorganizes state economic development by transferring duties and staff from older agencies to the new Department of Commerce, and sets salary and staffing rules for the secretary and secretaries. It authorizes the department to hire employees outside the State Merit System and consolidates funding and powers from previous boards and offices. It also introduces confidential handling of incentive project information, requires early notification to the secretary for certain programs, and sets a 30-day timeframe for processing related applications or reviews.

Who It Affects
State government employees and agencies involved in economic development, who become part of the Department of Commerce and may be hired outside the Merit System under the new structure; the secretary's salary framework also changes how compensation is set.
Businesses and development projects seeking state incentives or funding, who must provide advance notices to the Secretary of Commerce, have confidentiality protections for project information, and are subject to defined application review timelines.

Key Provisions
Rename and restructure: Alabama Development Office becomes the Department of Commerce; Director of Development becomes Secretary of Commerce; assistant directors become assistant secretaries of commerce; some staff may be hired outside the Merit System.
Staffing and salary: The Secretary of Commerce is appointed by the Governor with a salary that cannot exceed by $40,000 the highest Merit System salary for related office employees; there may be up to five eight assistant directors/secretaries not subject to the Merit System, with compensation set by the director secretary.
Transfer of duties and resources: All powers, duties, books, records, funds, equipment, and personnel from the former Planning and Industrial Development Board, Alabama Program Development Office, and related entities are transferred to the Alabama Development Office Department of Commerce; existing programs and authorities are consolidated under the new department.
Long-range planning and coordination: The Department of Commerce is empowered to formulate long-range state plans, coordinate planning across state and local governments, advise regional and local planning bodies, and oversee related planning activities.
Incentives and project notifications: The Secretary must be notified about general parameters of projects and incentives (e.g., capital credits, site grants, access road funding, training programs, and direct state payments) and may require confidentiality agreements; certain applications must include the notification acknowledgment letter from the secretary.
Application review timelines: The Secretary is responsible for reviewing, coordinating, and processing incentive-related applications, with a 30-day period to review each application for processing or approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Alabama Development Office