SB433 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Honeybees, regulated by Agriculture and Industries Department, bringing hives across state lines without certification by department, fine increased, destruction of hives under certain conditions, Sec. 2-14-4 am'd.

Summary

SB433 tightens Alabama's rules for honeybees entering the state by requiring inspections, comb-less packaging, and penalties including potential hive destruction for violations.

What This Bill Does

It requires an inspection certificate for all honeybees shipped into Alabama, with inspection within 60 days of shipment, and the certificate must be visibly attached. All shipments must be combless, and shipping bees in combs or honey-containing packaging is unlawful. Violations face a $100 fine per hive, with a seven-day notice to move; if the hives aren’t moved, they are destroyed, and informants can receive up to half of the fines as a reward. The rules do not apply to bees moved under a compliance agreement with the Department of Agriculture and Industries. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Beekeepers, apiary operators, and others who ship or move honeybees into Alabama are affected by the new inspection, packaging, and penalty requirements.
• People who provide information leading to a conviction (informants) and the Department of Agriculture and Industries (enforcement) are affected through potential rewards and enforcement actions.

Key Provisions

• All honeybees shipped or moved into Alabama must have a certificate of inspection from an official inspector, based on an actual examination within 60 days before shipment, and the certificate must be attached to the shipment in a conspicuous place.
• Shippable honeybees must be in combless packages; shipments in combs or in any packaging containing honey are unlawful.
• Moving bees into the state in a comb is fined $100 per hive; the owner must be notified to move the hives within seven days, or the hives will be destroyed; informants may be rewarded up to half of the fines.
• The section does not apply to bees moved under a compliance agreement with the Department of Agriculture and Industries.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is passed and approved.

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

Subjects

Agriculture and Industries Department