HB95 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jim Patterson
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Cotton producers, assessments for promotion of cotton, refund provisions deleted, Amendment 388, Sec. 93.06 of Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, const. amend.
Summary: HB95 would remove the refund requirement for cotton producer assessments used to fund promotional programs.
What This Bill Does
It proposes a constitutional amendment that deletes the rule mandating refunds to cotton producers who pay into a promotional assessment. It retains a framework to fund promotional activities for peanuts, milk, and cotton through referendums among growers and producers, with a designated nonprofit administering the program under state agriculture oversight. It also outlines how funds would be collected, managed, and supervised, including governance, auditing, and rules for conducting referendums.

Who It Affects
Cotton producers — would no longer have refunds mandated if they participate in or are assessed for the promotion program.
Peanut growers and milk producers — the amendment contemplates assessment-based promotion programs for peanuts, milk, and cotton, with related governance and potential refunds for nonparticipants as described in the amendment text.

Key Provisions
Delete the refund requirement for cotton producer assessments.
Allow the legislature to promote peanuts, milk, and cotton through research, education, advertising, and other methods, financed by assessments via referendums among growers/producers.
Provide for collection, disbursement, distribution, and expenditure of assessments, with penalties for failure to manage funds properly.
Designate a nonprofit association to administer the promotional program and conduct elections or referendums among growers/producers.
Set procedures for holding referendums, eligibility to vote, and oversight by the Department of Agriculture and Industries and the State Board of Agriculture.
Include bonding, auditing requirements, and rules to effectively carry out the program, and define peanut growers and producers.
Affirm that assessments are not taxes and apply program uniformity to peanuts, milk, and cotton.

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