HB362 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark Tuggle

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Forever Wild Land Trust, ad valorem tax revenue lost on property acquired, reimbursement payments from trust to all entities previously receiving tax revenue, const. amend.

Summary

The bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to require the Forever Wild Land Trust to reimburse counties for ad valorem tax revenue lost when it acquires land, with a fallback funding plan if Forever Wild funding ends after 2032.

What This Bill Does

It would require Forever Wild to annually pay the amount of ad valorem taxes that would have been collected on land now owned by Forever Wild, with payments to county tax officials and distributed as other ad valorem proceeds unless a county opts out. The reimbursement would be based on the land’s current-use value as forest property with good productivity and would begin with the ad valorem tax year after ratification, continuing in years after a fiscal year when Forever Wild received at least $10 million under Amendment 860. If Forever Wild funding is not continued after September 30, 2032, the Forever Wild Land Stewardship Account would receive up to $1,000,000 annually from the Alabama Trust Fund, and timber sale proceeds would go to the Stewardship Account unless the prior owner retains timber rights.

Who It Affects

• County governments and county tax officials in counties where Forever Wild has acquired land, who would receive and distribute reimbursements for lost ad valorem revenue.
• The Forever Wild Land Trust and the Forever Wild Land Stewardship Fund, which would have to make annual reimbursements and would receive a fallback funding amount if Forever Wild is not continued after 2032.

Key Provisions

• Reimburse lost ad valorem tax revenue: Forever Wild Land Trust must annually reimburse counties for ad valorem taxes that would have been collected on land acquired by Forever Wild, with payments to county tax officials to be distributed like other ad valorem proceeds unless a county elects to opt out; the amount is based on current-use forest value and calculated by the county tax official, starting after ratification and continuing in years following a qualifying Amendment 860 funding year.
• Fallback funding and timber proceeds: if Forever Wild funding is not continued after September 30, 2032, the Forever Wild Land Stewardship Account would receive up to $1,000,000 annually from the Alabama Trust Fund (per specified formulas), and timber sale proceeds from Forever Wild land would be deposited into the Stewardship Account unless the prior owner retained timber rights.

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

Subjects

Constitutional Amendments