HR527 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

A House resolution recognizing the National Solar Observatory and urging its headquarters be relocated to the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

What This Bill Does

It recognizes NSO as a key solar research facility and its mission to provide data for space weather prediction. It notes NSO's management by AURA under the National Science Foundation and a federal funding level of about $20 million per year. It urges the relocation of NSO's headquarters to a university campus, highlighting the University of Alabama in Huntsville as the preferred site and mentioning the University of Colorado Boulder as another potential site. It describes expected benefits to Alabama, including better research and teaching infrastructure, support for NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal, and potential job creation and increased research funding.

Who It Affects

• The Huntsville area, Alabama’s universities, and state residents who could benefit from improved research infrastructure, new jobs (about 61 high-skilled positions), and increased research funding.
• The National Solar Observatory and its management (AURA) and affiliated partners, whose headquarters would be relocated to Alabama and whose staff would move, affecting operations and national solar research collaboration.

Key Provisions

• Recognizes the National Solar Observatory as a primary provider of key ground-based solar facilities and its mission to improve space weather prediction.
• Notes NSO is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy under the direction of the National Science Foundation, with about $20 million in federal funding annually.
• States that NSO would relocate its operational headquarters in 2014, with the likely site on a university campus; UA Huntsville and CU Boulder are identified as potential sites.
• Expresses the Legislature's commitment to a long-range plan to enhance and expand solar physics instruction and research, and urges AURA to relocate NSO HQ to the UA Huntsville campus.
• Lists benefits of relocation, including improved research and teaching infrastructure, support for NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and Redstone Arsenal, relocation of about 61 professionals, and potential growth in future research funding for Alabama.

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

Subjects

Resolutions, Legislative