Senate Bill 266 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Josh CarnleySenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Covington County; underground carbon dioxide prohibited; constitutional amendment

Summary

SB266 would propose a constitutional amendment to Covington County prohibiting the injection and storage of carbon dioxide in underground wells, including Class VI wells.

What This Bill Does

If adopted, the amendment would add a prohibition on injecting, storing, or sequestering carbon dioxide in underground wells within Covington County. It explicitly covers Class VI wells as defined by the EPA under the Underground Injection Control program. If the amendment is approved by voters, it becomes part of the Alabama Constitution and the Code Commissioner may perform non-substantive editorial revisions. The election to ratify the amendment would follow Alabama’s constitutional and election laws, with a ballot description and Yes/No options, and the amendment would take effect upon a majority vote of qualified electors voting on the measure.

Who It Affects

• Residents and property owners in Covington County, who would be subject to the county-specific prohibition on CO2 underground injection and storage.
• Businesses and organizations involved in carbon capture and storage or any underground CO2 injection activities in Covington County, who would be prohibited from injecting or storing CO2 there (including Class VI wells).

Key Provisions

• Section 1: Prohibits the injection, storage, or sequestration of carbon dioxide in underground wells within Covington County, including Class VI wells as defined by the EPA.
• Section 1 also states that, upon ratification, the Code Commissioner shall number/place the amendment in the constitution and may perform nonsubstantive revisions for style, grammar, citations, and consistency.
• Section 2: Describes the election process to approve the amendment, including ballot numbering, description to voters, and Yes/No options, to be held under the state's election laws.
• Section 3: Specifies that the amendment becomes valid as part of the Alabama Constitution when a majority of the qualified electors voting on the measure approve it.

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

Subjects

Covington County