Senate Bill 90 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

David SessionsSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Seafood dealer license; license fee for applicants holding other seafood licenses revised; retroactive effect provided

Summary

SB90 updates Alabama's seafood dealer licensing, adjusts fees, adds location and vehicle licenses, and makes the changes retroactive and immediate.

What This Bill Does

It changes the license fees: Alabama residents with long-standing residency pay $465, nonresidents pay $730, and state residents with certain existing licenses pay $265. It requires license applicants to show a business license, tax ID, and seafood processing health permit. It creates exemptions for nonresident dealers selling to licensed Alabama dealers and for restaurants, but requires restaurants to buy only from licensed sellers. It imposes additional licenses for each extra business location and for each vehicle used to buy/sell seafood ($333 per vehicle), and it enforces penalties for selling seafood without a license. It directs $200 of each license fee to Sweet Grown Alabama and makes the act retroactive to licenses issued on or after October 1, 2025, with immediate effect.

Who It Affects

• Alabama residents who sell, broker, trade, or process seafood and any prospective license applicants will see changes in license fees (including a reduced $265 rate for certain holders) and new proof-of-business requirements and penalties for operating without a license.
• Businesses with multiple locations or vehicles involved in seafood transactions (and restaurants that purchase seafood) will face additional license requirements for each location and each vehicle, plus the allocation of $200 per license to the Sweet Grown Alabama program; the changes apply retroactively and take effect immediately.

Key Provisions

• §9-12-125(a)(1)a: License fee structure—$465 for Alabama residents with long-term domicile, $730 for nonresidents, or the other state's rate if it is higher; residents with specific existing licenses may pay $265.
• §9-12-125(a)(2): To obtain a license, entities other than brokers must present a current business license, tax identification number, and seafood processing health permit.
• §9-12-125(a)(3): Exemptions—nonresident dealers may operate without a Alabama license when dealing with licensed Alabama dealers or licensed fishermen; restaurants are exempt from licensing but must buy from licensed Alabama dealers, and cannot buy from unlicensed sellers.
• §9-12-125(a)(4): Location and vehicle licensing—additional licenses required for each place of business; each vehicle used to sell to/from outside Alabama requires a license at $333; operators must carry the license during transactions.
• §9-12-125(a)(5): Penalties for selling without a license—Class A misdemeanor with escalating fines: $1,000 first offense, $2,500 second offense within three years, and $5,000 plus 10-30 days in jail for third or subsequent offenses within three years.
• §9-12-125(b): Revenue sharing—$200 of each license fee is remitted annually to Sweet Grown Alabama for promoting the state's seafood products.
• Section 2: The act is retroactive and curative, applying to licenses issued on or after October 1, 2025.
• Section 3: The act becomes effective immediately.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 27, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Conservation & Natural Resources