HB607 Summary

• Establishes the Rural Connectivity and Innovation Act to expand high-speed broadband access in underserved farming communities through a state-funded grant program.

• Appropriates $50 million annually to the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to award grants to public-private partnerships, local governments, and cooperative organizations for broadband infrastructure projects.

• Creates an individual income tax credit of up to $10,000 for farmers adopting broadband-enabled agricultural technologies, capped at $2 million annually and available for tax years 2026-2030, with a limit of three years per individual.

• Requires grant recipients to submit annual progress reports and authorizes ADECA to conduct performance audits, public awareness campaigns, and technical training programs to help farmers utilize broadband technologies.

• Sunsets grant program and tax credit provisions on December 31, 2030; becomes effective October 1, 2025.