SB327 Alabama 2022 Session

Updated Apr 6, 2022

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Malika Sanders-Fortier
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2022
Title: Healing History Act, created, preservation of history, authorizing legislative members representing Dallas Co., to add names to the Edmund W. Pettus Bridge, Sec. 40-8-3 am'd.
Summary: The Healing History Act creates a Tuskegee Airmen Freedom Fund to fund public art and historic preservation in Alabama, redirects part of the ad valorem tax to that fund, and allows a Dallas County delegation to rename the Edmund W. Pettus Bridge to include 'Foot Soldiers' with related signage.
What This Bill Does
It creates the Tuskegee Airmen Freedom Fund in the state treasury, to be managed by the Alabama State Council on the Arts for commissioning public art and preserving Alabama history. It directs 1% of gross ad valorem tax revenue to the fund to support these art and healing history programs, with funds limited to appropriated amounts and not replacing existing funding. It establishes a grant review body and advisory committees to manage applications for art projects and ensure diverse representation, with up to 15% of funds available for staff and administration. It authorizes the name change of the Edmund W. Pettus Bridge to 'Edmund W. Pettus-Foot Soldiers Bridge,' requires signage, and requires notices to be sent to relevant agencies and registries to update historic place listings.

Who It Affects
Alabama taxpayers and property owners, because 1% of gross ad valorem tax revenue is deposited into the Tuskegee Airmen Freedom Fund to support public art and Healing History programs.
Dallas County residents and the Selma community, because the local legislative delegation may rename the Edmund W. Pettus Bridge to the Edmund W. Pettus-Foot Soldiers Bridge, with accompanying signage and actions to update historic registries.

Key Provisions
Creates the Healing History Act and the Tuskegee Airmen Freedom Fund in the State Treasury, to be administered by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, for commissioning public art and preserving historically significant sites and objects in Alabama.
Allocates 1% of gross ad valorem tax receipts to the Tuskegee Airmen Freedom Fund to be used by the Alabama State Council on the Arts for commissioning art, monuments, and related educational materials and programming related to Healing History.
Establishes a Tuskegee Airmen Freedom Fund Applicant Review Commission to approve or deny funding requests, with appointment rules and diversity requirements; allows creation of advisory committees as needed; sets governance and reporting standards.
Authorizes the Department of Transportation to place a marker at the foot of the Edmund W. Pettus Bridge and changes the bridge name to Edmund W. Pettus-Foot Soldiers Bridge, with separate signage and required notifications to the Alabama Historical Commission, Department of Transportation, and updates to the National Register of Historic Places.

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