SB45 Alabama 2015 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bill Hightower

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2015

Title

General Fund Budget, line item established for Navigable Waters Dredging Fund

Summary

SB45 creates a Navigable Waters Dredging Fund as a General Fund line item to finance dredging of certain Alabama navigable waters, administered by the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

What This Bill Does

The bill repeals the previous Act 2015-436 and establishes a new Navigable Waters Dredging Fund funded from government appropriations and gifts. It funds the state’s share of dredging projects for certain navigable waters, requiring a 1:1 non-state funding match and project management by the applicants. It authorizes the department to seek an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, allows up to 5% of deposits for administrative costs, and empowers the department to create regulations to implement the act. It also defines what counts as a dredging project and sets an effective date after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources – responsible for administering the Navigable Waters Dredging Fund, approving dredging projects, managing fund expenditures, and coordinating with the Army Corps of Engineers.
• Local governments or private entities applying for dredging projects – must provide a 1:1 non-state cost share, manage the approved dredging project, and rely on the fund for the state's share.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Navigable Waters Dredging Fund as a line item in the General Fund Budget and repeals Act 2015-436.
• Funds come from appropriations by governmental entities and gifts; the fund’s principal consists of these sources.
• The fund is administered by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and used only for the state's share of approved dredging projects, which must be cost-shared 1:1 with non-state dollars and managed by the applicants.
• The department may enter into an agreement with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to facilitate dredging projects; administrative costs may not exceed 5% of fund deposits; regulations may be developed to implement the act.
• Dredging project is defined as dredging of a state waterway to ensure proper use of a public boat ramp or waterways with a federally authorized maximum depth within a specified range.
• Section 4 repeals Act 2015-436 entirely.
• Section 5 sets the act to become effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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

Subjects

General Fund Budget