SB255 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

William “Bill” M. BeasleySenator

Democrat

Co-Sponsors

Tom WhatleyClay Scofield

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

This bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to allow promotional programs for peanuts, milk, and cotton funded by self-imposed assessments and to remove the cotton refund requirement.

What This Bill Does

It would authorize the legislature to establish promotional programs for peanuts, milk, and cotton, financed by assessments, fees, or charges on the sale of these products. It would set up a referendum process for peanut growers and milk and cotton producers to approve such assessments, and designate a nonprofit organization to administer the program with state oversight. It would delete the cotton refund requirement and provide rules for collection, use of funds, penalties for noncollection, bonding, and auditing. It also defines who is a peanut grower or producer and states that these assessments are not taxes.

Who It Affects

• Cotton producers would be subject to new promotional assessments funded by sales, and the refund requirement for cotton would be removed.
• Peanut growers and milk producers (and related buyers, processors, and handlers) could participate in funding and administering promotional activities through referendums and assessments.

Key Provisions

• authorize promotion of peanuts, milk, and cotton via research, education, advertising, and other methods; funding through self-imposed assessments on sales
• allow referendums among growers/producers to levy assessments; designate a nonprofit to administer the program; budgeting, collection, distribution, and penalties
• establish oversight by the Department of Agriculture and Industries and the State Board of Agriculture and Industries; bonding and auditing requirements
• define peanut growers and producers; declare assessments not to be taxes; ensure uniform application across 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