HB342 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chad Fincher

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Farmers' Market Authority, transfer to Agriculture and Industries Department, approval of Commissioner and Board of Agriculture and Industries for certain actions by authority, duties, bonding authority, Secs. 2-5-1 to 2-5-17, incl., 2-5-30 to 2-5-39, incl., repealed; Secs. 2-5A-1 to 2-5A-15, incl., 2-5A-30 to 2-5A-39, incl., added

Summary

HB342 moves the Farmers' Market Authority into the Department of Agriculture and Industries, reorganizes leadership and financing, and authorizes bond funding to build and operate state farmers' markets.

What This Bill Does

It repeals the old independent Farmers' Market Authority and creates Chapter 5A within the Department of Agriculture and Industries, transferring its functions, staff, and finances. The director will be appointed by the Department’s Commissioner with the approval of the Board of Agriculture and Industries, and will manage the authority’s duties. The department may issue bonds up to $10 million to acquire, construct, enlarge, and maintain market facilities, with specific rules on revenues, security, and repayment. The bill also establishes a new special fund for market operations, sets rules for market operation and enforcement, and allows long-term leases (up to 30 years) of market facilities, with oversight and conditions including Governor approval for certain actions.

Who It Affects

• Farmers, market vendors, operators, and producers who participate in state farmers' markets; they will be governed by the Department of Agriculture and Industries' rules, may face new grading, pricing, and operation requirements, and will interact with a centralized funding and leasing framework.
• State and local governments, taxpayers, and potential bondholders; they are affected by the shift of authority to a state department, the ability to issue bonds (up to $10 million), the creation of a dedicated market fund, and the new oversight, reporting, and tax-exemption provisions related to these activities.

Key Provisions

• Transfers the Farmers' Market Authority into the Department of Agriculture and Industries and repeals the previous Chapter 5, replacing it with Chapter 5A.
• The Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, with Board approval, appoints the director of the authority, who oversees planning, budgeting, compliance, promotion, and asset management.
• The department may acquire market sites, establish markets, and operate them with rules, grading standards, and enforcement mechanisms; markets must comply with municipal zoning and health regulations.
• The commissioner, with Board approval, may grant sales/conveyance of market properties and must ensure full cost reimbursement before conveyance; rules govern sale of markets if no longer needed, with Governor approval.
• All funds and records of the former authority transfer to the Department of Agriculture and Industries; a new Farmers’ Market Authority Fund is created to receive operating funds and be used for maintenance, capital outlay, and related expenses.
• Bonds may be issued up to $10 million, secured by specified revenues (market charges, lease revenues, appropriations) and may be refunded; debt service and investment rules are defined, with bonds as limited obligations of the department, not general obligations of the state.
• Leases or contracts for market facilities may run up to 30 years; disputes over leases default to Montgomery County; remedies include mandamus, judgments, and termination of leases.
• The act provides for tax exemptions for the department and its income related to these bonds and operations; the state Treasurer handles debt service payments.

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

Subjects

Farmers' Market Authority