SB297 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Roger Bedford, Jr.

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Community development districts, sale of alcoholic beverages in dry counties, definition of expanded, Sec. 35-8B-1 am'd.

Summary

SB297 would expand Alabama's 'community development district' definition to include private resort developments with freestanding cabins and adjust alcohol sales and tax rules within those districts.

What This Bill Does

It adds private resort developments with freestanding cabins to the list of eligible community development districts and sets criteria for these districts (acreage, lake frontage, lodge size, on-site management, and guest amenities). It allows alcohol sales within certain districts (and exempts those districts from some existing rules), but for other district types, alcohol would be restricted to on-premises consumption and subject to distance limits from highways. It requires counties to participate in tax and license-fee distributions for districts located within their borders, and the act takes effect immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Private resort developers and homeowners associations that would create or manage the expanded districts and must meet the new acreage, amenities, and governance requirements.
• Counties (especially those with dry counties and wet municipalities) and their residents, who would be involved in tax and license-fee distributions and affected by new alcohol sale rules and district location rules.

Key Provisions

• Expands 'community development district' to include private resort developments with freestanding cabins meeting defined criteria (minimum acreage, lake frontage, lodge size, restaurant, golf/social amenities, and full-time on-site management).
• Allows sale and distribution of alcoholic beverages within a defined private resort district category and exempts such districts from Section 35-8B-3; requires nondiscriminatory membership and ongoing management for guest services.
• For other district definitions (a and b), maintains on-premises alcohol sales only and imposes a 3,000-foot distance restriction from highway rights-of-way adjacent to the district.
• Requires counties to participate in distribution of taxes and license fees for any community development district located in their area.
• Effective date: immediately upon passage and governor's approval.

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

Subjects

Community Development Districts