SB268 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Arthur OrrSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Ports, inland facilities, $10 million of add'l. motor fuel tax levied by Act 2019-2 transfered from Rebuild Alabama Fund to Economic and Community Affairs Dept., Inland Port and Intermodal Fund created, use for inland ports and intermodal facilities to interconnect with other modes of transportation
Summary: SB 268 would move $10 million a year from the Public Road and Bridge Fund to ADECA to create a grant program and fund inland ports and intermodal facilities, coordinating their development and connection to other transportation modes.
What This Bill Does
authorizes an annual transfer of $10 million from the Public Road and Bridge Fund to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to run a grant program for inland ports and intermodal facilities; creates the Inland Ports and Intermodal Development Fund within ADECA to finance improvements; sets priorities (reducing highway congestion, increasing port tonnage, and regional competitiveness) and requires at least 20% local funding for projects; limits expenditures to capital improvements, dredging near inland ports, port infrastructure development, or rehabilitation of waterway infrastructure, and requires feasibility studies for land acquisition; excludes routine maintenance and administrative costs; the Alabama State Port Authority and inland ports are exempt from this act; establishment and rules will be set by ADECA, with an effective date three months after passage.

Who It Affects
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) will administer the grant program, manage the Inland Ports and Intermodal Development Fund, and coordinate inland port development.
Local governments, port authorities, and private or public entities developing inland ports or intermodal facilities, which may apply for grants (requiring at least 20% local match) and implement eligible projects that improve infrastructure or intermodal connectivity.

Key Provisions
Annual transfer of $10,000,000 from the Public Road and Bridge Fund to ADECA to establish a grant program for inland port and intermodal facility development.
Creation of the Inland Ports and Intermodal Development Fund within ADECA to finance improvements to inland ports and intermodal facility infrastructure, with competitive grant awards and priority given to projects reducing congestion, increasing port tonnage, or boosting regional competitiveness.
Minimum local participation of 20% of project cost for grant funding; applications must describe use and comply with required criteria; expenditures must be capital-focused or related to intermodal infrastructure, with a feasibility study required for land acquisition.
Ineligible or restricted uses include routine maintenance, administrative costs, and dredging not near an inland port; funding for new inland ports or land acquisition requires feasibility studies and competitive analysis.
Exemption for the Alabama State Port Authority (and its inland ports) from this act; existing port laws remain in place and not preempted.
Funds carry forward to limit annual grant administration to $10 million; unspent funds after 15 years revert to the Public Road and Bridge Fund or the Rebuild Alabama Fund, as specified in the act.
ADECA shall promulgate rules and eligibility requirements; the act becomes effective three months after passage.

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