HB506 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Tommy Hanes
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Jackson Co., human sewage biosolids, application to land as fertilizer or soil amendment, prohibited, exception, const. amend.
Summary: This bill would amend the Alabama Constitution to ban applying treated human sewage biosolids to Jackson County land as fertilizer or soil amendment, with an exception for Class A biosolids or farm animal manure, and it would be decided by voters in the November 2020 election.
What This Bill Does
If approved, it would stop the use of biosolids derived from treated human sewage sludge on Jackson County land as a fertilizer or soil amendment, except when the biosolids are Class A or are manure from farm animals. It defines Class A biosolids as dewatered and heated sewage that meets EPA guidelines for land application without restrictions. The measure would be decided by a public vote in the November 2020 General Election.

Who It Affects
Jackson County landowners and agricultural operators would be restricted from applying treated human sewage biosolids to land unless the material is Class A or is farm animal manure.
Biosolids producers and wastewater facilities serving Jackson County would need to adjust practices to meet Class A standards or rely on the farm-animal manure exception in order to apply biosolids; otherwise land application would be prohibited.

Key Provisions
Biosolids derived from treated human sewage sludge may not be applied on Jackson County land as a fertilizer or soil amendment, except for Class A biosolids or manures produced by farm animals.
Class A biosolids are defined as dewatered and heated sewage that meets U.S. EPA guidelines for land application without restrictions, and the amendment calls for an election in November 2020 to approve or reject the change.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Jackson County