HB584 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mike Holmes

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Historical Commission, transfer duties, responsibilities, property, etc. to Archives and History Department and Conservation and Natural Resources Department, Secs. 29-1-23, 41-9-240, 41-9-241, 41-9-242, 41-9-243, 41-9-244, 41-9-245, 41-9-246, 41-9-247, 41-9-248, 41-9-249, 41-9-254, 41-9-255, 41-9-256, 41-9-257, 41-9-258, 41-9-259, 41-9-262, 41-9-263, 41-9-510, 41-9-511, 41-9-512, and 41-9-513 repealed; Secs. 9-14A-8, 9-15-82, 11-68-3, 11-68-6, 11-80-13, 13A-7-23.1, 23-1-293, 40-8-3, 40-9F-2, 40-9F-3, 40-9F-4, 40-9F-5, 40-9F-6, 40-9F-7, 40-9F-8, 41-6-2, 41-7-3, 41-9-222, 41-9-248, 41-9-249.1, 41-9-250, 41-9-251, 41-9-252, 41-9-253, 41-9-260, 41-9-261, 41-9-291, 41-9-292, 41-9-293, 41-9-294, 41-9-295, 41-9-296, 41-9-297, 41-9-299.1, 41-9-321, 41-9-335, 41-9-542, 41-9-992, 41-10-136, 41-10-138, 41-10-235, 41-10-236, 45-17-220, 45-17A-80.02, 41-17A-80.05, and 45-26A-70.02 am'd.

Summary

HB584 would shift the Alabama Historical Commission's duties and historic-site oversight to the Department of Archives and History and the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, reorganizing management of key sites and programs beginning in 2016.

What This Bill Does

The bill transfers the State Historic Preservation Office and the State Archeologist, Fort Mims, and the Capitol's preservation supervision to the Department of Archives and History. It also moves the management of Fort Morgan, Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson, Old Cahawba, and the Confederate Memorial Park to the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. It repeals many Alabama Historical Commission statutes and consolidates operations under the new departments, creates a dedicated Alabama State Historic Preservation Fund, and redirects certain oil and gas royalties to the Parks Fund. The historic rehabilitation tax credit program would continue under the new arrangement with established rules, caps, and transfer provisions, and a transition plan and coordinator would guide implementation after the 2016 effective date.

Who It Affects

• State agencies and employees (Alabama Historical Commission, Department of Archives and History, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources) whose duties, funding, and reporting would be reorganized and realigned under the new framework.
• Owners/managers of historic sites and taxpayers (e.g., Gaineswood ownership transfer to Friends of Gaineswood; management of Fort Morgan, Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson, Old Cahawba, and Confederate Memorial Park; and participants in the historic rehabilitation tax credit program) who would experience changes in site governance, funding streams, and credits available for rehabilitation projects.

Key Provisions

• Transfers the duties of the State Historic Preservation Office and State Archeologist, Fort Mims, and the preservation supervision of the State Capitol to the Alabama Department of Archives and History.
• Transfers the properties Fort Morgan, Fort Toulouse-Fort Jackson, Old Cahawba, and the Confederate Memorial Park to the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for consolidated management.
• Repeals Sections 29-1-23, 41-9-240 through 41-9-513 of the Code and amends numerous related sections to shift authority from the Alabama Historical Commission to the two departments and to revise references accordingly.
• Creates the Alabama State Historic Preservation Fund in the State Treasury and redirects oil and gas royalties to the Parks Fund to support conservation and historical-site maintenance.
• Transfers and reorganizes the rehabilitation tax credit program (Sections 40-9F-2 through 40-9F-8) to be administered by the Department of Archives and History, including credit reservations, transfers, caps (e.g., annual and total limits), audit and recapture rules, and reporting requirements.
• Establishes transition arrangements, including a transition coordinator and interagency cooperation, to implement the changes starting January 1, 2016.

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

Subjects

Historical Commission