HB674 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chad Fincher

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Water management, Alabama Water Sustainability and Security Act created, development of comprehensive water management plan by Office of Water Resources, the Water Resources Council, and the Water Resources Commission, authorized, requirements of plan specified, burden of proof for withdrawal of water specified, Secs. 9-10B-5, 9-10B-16 am'd

Summary

HB674 would create a state-wide, comprehensive water management plan and give new authority to state agencies to monitor, protect, and allocate Alabama’s water resources.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Alabama Water Sustainability and Security Act, assigning the Office of Water Resources, the Water Resources Council, and the Water Resources Commission to develop and carry out a comprehensive water plan, with input from the Legislature. The plan would monitor withdrawals, protect minimum flows, manage interbasin transfers, and include conservation and drought-management strategies, plus a regional decision-making structure. It also changes water rights by making the right to use water a formal legal record (Certificate of Use) and allows advisory planning committees to assist in plan development, with broad stakeholder involvement. Administratively, it expands duties and powers of the agencies to coordinate planning, enforcement, dispute resolution, and coordination with water quality rules.

Who It Affects

• State agencies (Office of Water Resources, Water Resources Council, and Water Resources Commission) would gain new authority to develop, implement, and oversee the comprehensive water plan and related drought management strategies.
• Water rights holders and the general public would be affected by the new legal protections for water use (Certificate of Use), minimum flow requirements, potential restrictions during shortages, and the required stakeholder participation and advisory processes.

Key Provisions

• Establish the Comprehensive Water Plan to be developed by the Office of Water Resources with advice from the Water Resources Council and to be presented to the Legislature for adoption; plan includes monitoring withdrawals, minimum flows, interbasin transfer controls, conservation programs, and drought management strategies with a regional planning structure.
• Amend Sections 9-10B-5 and 9-10B-16 to expand the powers of the Office of Water Resources, the Commission, and related bodies, including rulemaking, data management, enforcement, stakeholder involvement, issuance and modification of Certificates of Use, coordination with water quality regulations, and mechanisms for dispute resolution.

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

Subjects

Water Management