Senate Bill 228 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Space Authority, renamed Alabama Aerospace Authority; membership increased; duties and powers increased

Summary

SB228 renames the Alabama Space Authority to the Alabama Aerospace Authority, expands the board with new ex officio members, and broadens its duties and powers to promote aerospace, spaceport technology, and related industries in Alabama, effective October 1, 2026.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the Alabama Space Authority becomes the Alabama Aerospace Authority on October 1, 2026. It adds the Finance Director and the Secretary of Workforce as ex officio members, and the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission as an ex officio nonvoting member. The authority’s duties would expand to promote aerospace education and training, space exploration, space tourism, and spaceport technologies; it would sponsor conferences, encourage private investment and public-private partnerships, and study the feasibility of a federally licensed spaceport. It would also gain powers to acquire and lease property, adopt bylaws and policies, enter contracts, and accept gifts, loans, and grants to carry out its mission.

Who It Affects

• Group 1: State government and public agencies (e.g., ADECA, Department of Commerce, Department of Transportation, Finance Director, Secretary of Workforce) through expanded governance roles and coordination.
• Group 2: Aerospace industry players, universities, researchers, investors, and local communities that could benefit from enhanced education/training programs, space-related initiatives, and potential spaceport opportunities.

Key Provisions

• Rename the Alabama Space Authority to the Alabama Aerospace Authority effective October 1, 2026, with existing rights and duties continuing under the new name.
• Expand the board by adding the Finance Director and the Secretary of Workforce as ex officio members; add the CEO of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission as an ex officio nonvoting member.
• Broaden duties to promote aerospace education, space exploration, space tourism, and spaceport technologies; sponsor conferences; encourage venture capital and public-private partnerships; study the feasibility of a federally licensed spaceport; promote private investment and economic development.
• Grant powers to acquire and hold property, lease facilities and set rents, adopt bylaws/policies, enter contracts, and accept gifts, loans, and grants to carry out the authority’s purposes.
• Allow establishment of operating procedures and committees to conduct its work, and require providing copies of bylaws/policies to the Legislative Council for review.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Authorities, Boards, & Commissions