Senate panel backs bill to allocate federal coal revenues to impacted counties

Senator Woods introduced SB155, the Renewing Coal-Impacted Communities Act, which sets a framework for distributing federal coal royalties in Alabama while protecting the general fund. Woods said the bill would send the first $1 million to the general fund, the next $500,000 to the port authority for the McDuffie Coal Terminal, and $250,000 to the surface-mining commission; additional funds would flow into a grant program for workforce and economic development in affected counties.

A technical amendment offered by Senator Shellenoid clarified definitions for the Alabama Department of Workforce and provided for expense reimbursements for members administering the program; the amendment was adopted unanimously on a clean roll, 16‑0. Committee members questioned which organizations would be eligible for grants and whether the program would be limited geographically. Woods told the committee it would be limited to designated coal‑impacted counties as defined in the bill — Tuscaloosa, Jefferson, Walker and Fayette — and that entities located in those counties would be eligible.

The committee used the previous roll and gave SB155 a favorable report. The sponsor said the proposal tracks federal receipts tied to federal coal leases and is structured to protect existing state revenue flows while funding local economic and workforce initiatives.

Next steps: SB155 was reported favorably and will proceed to the full Senate calendar for further consideration.