Senate Bill 325 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Bobby D. SingletonSenator

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Department of Commerce; Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute; references to applicable comprehensive statewide economic development strategic plan, revised; exemptions from state procurement law and contract review, provided;

Summary

SB325 moves the Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute under the Department of Commerce and exempts it from most state procurement and contract-review rules, aligning its work with a new statewide economic development plan.

What This Bill Does

It reorganizes AIDT as a division of the Department of Commerce and preserves its existing contracts and property while allowing it to enter new contracts for goods, services, training, and related resources. It exempts AIDT from the state procurement law for supplies and services (not public works) and from Chapter 2 of Title 29 (including the Legislative Contract Review Oversight Committee), with the exception that legal services contracts are also exempt from committee review. For major building projects or funding, the AIDT director must certify to the Governor that the proposal is consistent with the comprehensive statewide economic development strategic plan. The plan reference is updated to the new comprehensive statewide economic development strategic plan, and AIDT continues to be headed by a director appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, following the AIDT Policy Manual. The act becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Alabama Industrial Development Training Institute (AIDT) and the Department of Commerce: they would operate as a division of the Department of Commerce with exemptions from state procurement law for supplies and services and from most contract-review oversight, plus new requirements for certifying building projects against the statewide plan.
• Legislative Contract Review Oversight Committee and state procurement oversight bodies: their review authority would be reduced or eliminated for AIDT contracts (including legal services contracts), changing how AIDT procurements are monitored.

Key Provisions

• AIDT becomes a division of the Department of Commerce; powers, duties, and funds transfer to AIDT as described, with existing contracts/leases/grants remaining in force.
• AIDT may enter into new contracts and other instruments to procure goods, services, training, and related resources, as set forth in its purpose statute.
• AIDT is exempt from the state procurement law (Article 5, Chapter 4, Title 41) for procurement of supplies and services other than public works.
• AIDT is exempt from the Permanent Legislative Committees (Chapter 2, Title 29), including the Legislative Contract Review Oversight Committee, for its contracts; legal services contracts are also exempt from committee review.
• For construction, retrofit, or renovation of buildings and for state or federal funding related to such projects, the AIDT director must certify to the Governor that the proposal is consistent with the comprehensive statewide economic development strategic plan.
• All property currently owned by AIDT remains the property of AIDT.
• AIDT will continue to be led by a director appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, with powers and qualifications per the AIDT Policy Manual.
• The act references the new comprehensive statewide economic development strategic plan in place of the previous plan name.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

State Government