SB103 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tom Whatley

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Vending machines, sale of corn in, authorized, inspection by Agriculture and Industries Dept, required

Summary

SB 103 would allow vending machines to store, sell, and dispense certain agricultural products by weight, with price per unit shown and regular inspections.

What This Bill Does

It allows storage, sale, and dispensing of listed agricultural products by weight through freestanding vending machines. The machine must clearly show the price per unit of weight and comply with building, electrical, and fire codes, with sales subject to state and local taxes. The owner or operator must display contact information and consumers can report problems; the Department of Agriculture and Industries would routinely inspect to ensure weight accuracy, and these machines would not require NTEP certification. Existing machines operating before the act can continue to operate but must be inspected by October 1 after the act takes effect.

Who It Affects

• Owners or operators of vending machines that dispense agricultural products by weight would be able to operate these machines if they meet price display, code compliance, tax, reporting, and inspection requirements.
• Consumers who buy from these vending machines would see the price per unit of weight and have a way to report problems to the machine owner/operator.
• The Department of Agriculture and Industries would oversee routine inspections to verify weights and measures and enforce the act.

Key Provisions

• Defines agricultural products (including oats, rye, shelled corn, wheat, barley, cotton seed hulls, seeds, wild game feeds, rock salt, and protein pellets) and defines a vending machine as a freestanding unit that dispenses these products without an attendant.
• Allows storage, sale, and dispensing of agricultural products by weight from vending machines starting on the act’s effective date.
• Requires sales to be by weight with the price per unit clearly indicated on the machine; machines may accept cash or credit/debit cards.
• Requires the machine to display the owner/operator's name and contact information for reporting problems and to comply with any applicable state or local taxes.
• Requires compliance with building, electrical, and fire codes; if other laws apply, the owner/operator must comply.
• The Department of Agriculture and Industries must routinely inspect vending machines to ensure weight accuracy and; vending machines dispensing agricultural products are not subject to NTEP certification.
• Existing machines operating before the act may continue to operate and must be inspected by October 1 following the act’s effective date.
• The department may adopt rules to implement and administer the act.
• The act takes effect immediately after it is passed and approved by the Governor.

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