SB45 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Fish Consumption; to create and provide procedures to implement fish consumption advisories

Summary

The bill creates a formal process for issuing fish consumption advisories for Alabama waters, including signs and license-holder notices when advisories are active.

What This Bill Does

It requires the State Health Officer to issue fish consumption advisories when needed to protect public health and publish them online with a dedicated contact line. It establishes an advisory panel with state agencies and stakeholders to review and approve how advisories are issued and communicated. It requires the Department of Environmental Management to test fish tissue for pollutants, post signs at water access points when advisories are active, and publish an annual monitoring report. It also requires the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to notify fishing license purchasers of active advisories, directing them to online advisory information.

Who It Affects

• Alabama residents who fish and eat fish from state waters, who may need to modify their consumption habits based on advisories.
• Fishing license purchasers/license holders, who would be notified of active advisories and receive access to online information about all advisories.

Key Provisions

• State Health Officer must issue a fish consumption advisory when reasonable to protect public health and publish it on the Public Health website; maintain a dedicated telephone line for advisory information.
• An advisory panel must be established with representatives from the Department of Public Health, Department of Environmental Management, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and stakeholders; panel meets at least twice a year to review tissue sampling methods, waters and fish to sample, pollutant toxicity limits, communication strategies, and other relevant topics.
• ADEM, in consultation with DPH, must conduct regular fish tissue monitoring to evaluate safe consumption levels; publish an annual report on its website detailing methods and reasoning, with public comment.
• ADEM must post signage at public boat ramps near state waters with active advisories, including a telephone number, internet address, and a QR code for online advisory information and related data; may collaborate with other agencies or groups to implement.
• DCNR, with each electronic fishing license issuance, must notify licensees of current advisories by providing an internet address to access all active advisories online.
• The act becomes effective October 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

Conservation & Natural Resources; Environmental Protection; Health; Public Safety & Emergencies