HB385 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben RobbinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Occupational and professional licensing boards; prohibited from purchasing or acquiring real property under the power of eminent domain

Summary

HB385 would bar most Alabama state agencies from using eminent domain to acquire real property, with phased dates and carve-outs for certain entities, and would update related agency powers.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits any enumerated agency or Sunset Law entity from purchasing or acquiring real property through eminent domain starting June 1, 2025, with a grandfather clause for acquisitions already in process or completed by that date. It removes future eminent-domain authority for the Alabama Surface Mining Reclamation Commission, Bear Creek Development Authority, Alabama State Board of Pharmacy, Historical Commission, and the Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute, though the bill provides limited acquisition parameters for Bear Creek Watershed and related development. It expands and adjusts the powers of these agencies to regulate surface mining, manage development projects, and support construction workforce development, including standards, training, funding, and enforcement, with the Construction Recruitment Institute’s eminent-domain prohibition taking effect October 1, 2025. The act also becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: Government agencies and commissions subject to the Alabama Sunset Law (and the named entities in the bill) — they would lose the authority to condemn or purchase real property through eminent domain after the specified dates, with a grandfather clause for ongoing or completed transactions.
• Group 2: Private landowners and the general public — there would be fewer government takings by eminent domain, though Bear Creek Watershed properties may have limited carve-outs under the bill.

Key Provisions

• Starting June 1, 2025, no enumerated agency or Sunset Law entity may purchase or acquire real property through eminent domain, with a grandfather for acquisitions in process or closed before that date.
• The Alabama Surface Mining Reclamation Commission gains expanded powers to regulate surface coal mining, set reclamation standards, require training and certification, collect fees, and cooperate with other agencies, with funding provisions.
• The Bear Creek Development Authority’s land and water rights acquisition powers are defined in Bear Creek Watershed development, subject to specified limitations; condemnation is effectively restricted, with particular context for Bear Creek.
• The Alabama Construction Recruitment Institute faces a prohibition on acquiring new real property by eminent domain starting October 1, 2025, and gains authority related to recruitment, training, and workforce development for the construction industry.
• Updates to Sections 9-16-74, 33-15-6, 34-23-92, 41-9-242, and 41-10-725 reflect the new eminent-domain rules and agency powers.

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

Subjects

Authorities, Boards, & Commissions