HB342 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tommy Hanes

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

Jackson Co., human sewage biosolids, application to land as fertilizer or soil amendment, prohibited, exception, const. amend.

Summary

A proposed constitutional amendment for Jackson County to bar applying treated human sewage biosolids to land as fertilizer, with exceptions for Class A biosolids and farm-animal manures.

What This Bill Does

If passed, it would prohibit applying biosolids derived from treated human sewage sludge to land in Jackson County as a fertilizer or soil amendment, except for Class A biosolids or manure from farm animals. It defines Class A biosolids as dewatered and heated sewage that meets EPA guidelines for unrestricted land application. The amendment would be decided by a countywide election described for the November 2020 General Election.

Who It Affects

• Jackson County residents and landowners, who would see a restriction on how biosolids can be applied to land in their county.
• Biosolids producers/handlers (e.g., wastewater treatment facilities) and farmers in Jackson County, who would need to comply with the new rule or rely on the Class A biosolids or farm-animal manure exception.

Key Provisions

• Biosolids derived from treated human sewage sludge may not be applied on land in Jackson County as a fertilizer or soil amendment, with exceptions for Class A biosolids or manures produced by farm animals.
• Class A biosolid is defined as dewatered and heated sewage that meets U.S. EPA guidelines for land application without any restrictions.
• An election to approve the amendment would be held at the November 2020 General Election, with ballot language describing the measure.
• This change would amend the Constitution of Alabama (relating to Jackson County) to implement the prohibition and its exceptions.

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