Alabama farmers may soon have greater assurance about the sales tax exemption on agricultural products following passage of a bill Wednesday in Senate committee.

HB 242 by Rep. David Sessions, R-Grand Bay, and SB 191 by Sen. Tom Whatley, R-Auburn, specify Alabama’s existing sales tax exemption for fruit and agricultural products applies for harvests on leased or rented land. The bills also state gross receipts from the sale of pine straw products by the person who harvested the product would be exempt from state sales tax.

Sessions’ bill passed the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee 12-0. The measure awaits a final vote in the Senate before going to Gov. Kay Ivey for her signature. (Federation Supports)