Bill > HB212

This bill requires individuals who are commercially cutting, trimming, severing, or uprooting aquatic plants in public waters to use commercially reasonable methods to remove all plant matter from those waters after their work is completed. If a person fails to do so, they will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and face a mandatory fine of at least $500, which will be paid to the primary law enforcement agency responsible for enforcement. The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is tasked with developing specific rules that define what constitutes "commercially reasonable methods" for removing aquatic plants. The bill will go into effect on October 1, 2025, and aims to prevent pollution and environmental disruption in public waterways by ensuring that businesses engaged in aquatic plant management clean up after their operations. A "Class C misdemeanor" is the least serious category of criminal offense in Alabama, typically punishable by a fine and/or a short jail term.