HJR494 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Laura HallRepresentative

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Mac McCutcheonMike BallHoward SanderfordPhil WilliamsJim PattersonWayne Johnson

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

National Solar Observatory, recognized

Summary

HJR494 recognizes the National Solar Observatory and urges relocating its headquarters to The University of Alabama in Huntsville.

What This Bill Does

The bill acknowledges NSO as a key solar research facility and outlines its mission to improve space weather prediction. It notes NSO’s management by AURA under the National Science Foundation and cites federal funding. It urges AURA to relocate NSO’s headquarters to the University of Alabama in Huntsville, as part of a plan that could relocate about 61 skilled professionals. It highlights benefits for Huntsville and Alabama, including better research and teaching infrastructure and stronger ties to NASA and the Army, and commits to a long-range plan to boost solar physics instruction and research.

Who It Affects

• The National Solar Observatory (NSO) and its managing organization, the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), which would be involved in the relocation decision.
• The University of Alabama in Huntsville, the Huntsville community, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, and Alabama higher education and workforce, which would experience the potential relocation of headquarters and related jobs and research activities.

Key Provisions

• Recognizes NSO as the primary provider of ground-based solar facilities and its role in data for predicting space weather.
• Urges the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy to relocate the NSO headquarters to the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
• Notes that the relocation would bring benefits to Huntsville and Alabama, including about 61 highly skilled professionals, improved research and teaching infrastructure, and potential increases in future research funding and recognition.
• Commitment by the Legislature to work with the Governor and the University to implement a long-range plan to enhance and expand solar physics instruction and research.

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

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative