HB444 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Apr 6, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Chip BrownRepresentative
Republican
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Title: Seafood country of origin; Agriculture and Industries Commissioner authorized to test for compliance, notification methods revised, violations further provided
Summary: HB444 would require seafood suppliers to disclose country of origin to food service establishments and authorize testing and penalties for violations.
What This Bill Does
The bill requires suppliers to provide the country of origin for covered seafood to food service establishments. It requires visible labeling or signage at the point of sale showing the country of origin, with specific rules for menus and signs depending on how the establishment prepares seafood. It authorizes the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries to test for compliance and report violations to the State Health Officer, who may investigate and impose penalties. It also creates a penalty schedule, requires enforcement rules, publishes violators online, and sets an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects
Suppliers of covered seafood must provide country-of-origin information to food service establishments.
Food service establishments (restaurants, delis, etc.) must display country-of-origin information at sale or on menus with specific size and placement requirements.
State Health Officer and the Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries gain enforcement powers including testing, investigations, and penalties.
Consumers and the public may see origin information and a list of violators published by the department.

Key Provisions
Suppliers must provide country of origin for covered seafood to food service establishments.
Food service establishments must display country of origin or note import status, with specific labeling/size/placement rules on packaging, displays, or signs.
On-premises prep with menus requires country-of-origin displayed on every menu item; if no menu, a sign at the main entrance is required.
The Commissioner may test for compliance and report violations to the State Health Officer.
The State Health Officer may investigate verified complaints and enforce civil penalties on violators.
Penalties are graduated from warnings for first offenses to fines up to $1,000 for fifth and subsequent offenses; penalties go to the department for enforcement.
Violators’ names and addresses will be published on the department’s website.
Rules for enforcement will be adopted by the Board of Agriculture and Industries; the act takes effect October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 31, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Agriculture & Forestry