SB58 Alabama 2016 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tom Whatley
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2016
Title: Agriculture and Industries Dept. seeds, regulation reserved to dept., local regulation prohibited, Sec. 2-26-3.1 added
Summary: SB58 would reserve seed regulation to the state and ban local governments from regulating seeds.
What This Bill Does
The bill adds a new section that makes seed regulation a statewide matter under the Board of Agriculture and Industries and its Commissioner. It prevents counties, municipalities, and other local governments from enacting or enforcing any seed-related rules, and any local law that conflicts with this would be invalid. It covers all seed-related activities, including cultivation, harvesting, processing, labeling, marketing, storage, and planting, and becomes effective immediately after the Governor signs it.

Who It Affects
Local governments (counties and municipalities) – prohibited from regulating seeds.
Board of Agriculture and Industries and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries – gain exclusive, statewide authority to regulate seeds.

Key Provisions
Adds Section 2-26-3.1 to designate seed regulation as a statewide matter under the Board of Agriculture and Industries and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries.
Prohibits counties, municipalities, and other political subdivisions from enacting or enforcing any seed-related law, rule, regulation, or resolution.
Declares any local law that conflicts with this chapter invalid and of no effect.
Specifies that regulation of seeds covers cultivation, harvesting, production, processing, registration, labeling, marketing, sale, storage, transportation, distribution, possession, notification of use, and planting of seeds.
Effective immediately after the Governor signs the bill into law.

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