Bill
SJR 92
Alabama Growth Alliance will create a data-driven Rural Roadmap with actionable strategies to boost infrastructure, workforce, health, and quality of life in distressed rural areas
Status & classification
- Bill number: SJR 92 (Senate Joint Resolution) — Enacted (introduced 05/06/2025; enacted 05/21/2025).
- Nature: Non‑binding resolution encouraging the Alabama Growth Alliance (AGA) to develop a statewide “Alabama Rural Roadmap.”
- Purpose: To produce a coordinated set of recommendations and an action plan to revitalize and strengthen economic, infrastructure, workforce, health, and quality‑of‑life conditions in Alabama’s rural communities.
Main requirements and key provisions
- Tasking: The AGA is strongly encouraged to lead the creation of the Alabama Rural Roadmap and provide recommendations for a comprehensive statewide rural development program.
- Leadership team:
- Chair: Senate President Pro Tempore (or designee).
- Vice‑chair (enrolled version): Speaker of the House (or designee).
- These leaders will appoint a group of legislators, business leaders, economic developers and other stakeholders to provide oversight and ensure the AGA compiles relevant data and completes the Roadmap.
- Appointments must reflect racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity.
- Stakeholder engagement and collaboration:
- AGA must actively engage local officials, community leaders, businesses, residents and leverage universities, research institutions, state agencies and the private sector.
- Analysis and deliverables:
- Identify and define “distressed rural areas” with measurable criteria.
- Conduct in‑depth analyses of causes of economic vulnerability.
- Provide specific, actionable, measurable policy recommendations across prioritized areas:
- Infrastructure (industrial sites; electric, gas, water; broadband expansion; community/downtown improvements).
- Business development and entrepreneurship (leveraging Innovate Alabama; small business support; access to capital; incubators/accelerators).
- Workforce development and training (regional training, expanded online CTE, strategies to address shortages).
- Quality of life and placemaking (community‑driven placemaking grants funded via the Alabama Development Fund).
- Rural health care (sustainable solutions to improve access and reduce disparities).
- Deadline and termination:
- The Alabama Rural Roadmap must be completed and submitted to the Governor, chairs of the Senate and House fiscal responsibility/economic development committees, and the Secretary of Commerce no later than the 5th legislative day of the 2026 Regular Session.
- Upon submission, the initiative is dissolved of any future duties.
Who is affected
- Primary: Alabama Growth Alliance (lead), Legislature (receiving body), executive officials and state agencies (Commerce), Innovate Alabama, Alabama Development Fund, universities and research institutions.
- Secondary: Rural counties, local governments, businesses, workforce and residents statewide — especially communities identified as distressed.
Implications and expected impact
- The resolution itself is advisory (not an appropriation or binding statute) but creates a formal, time‑bound planning process that can shape future legislation, funding priorities, and programs to expand broadband, workforce training, rural healthcare access, business supports, and placemaking investments.
- The Roadmap is intended to provide a data‑driven foundation for the Legislature and Administration to consider specific bills or budget actions to implement recommended strategies.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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