The Cleburne County Commission voted to forward a draft act to the county's legislative delegation to establish a Cleburne County Economic Development Authority, approving the version with subsection c (the redirecting-tax language) removed.

The measure, read aloud at the meeting, would create an authority composed of appointed county and municipal members serving staggered initial terms and thereafter four-year terms. The draft grants the authority powers commonly available to local industrial development authorities, including issuing bonds, acquiring and disposing of property, and entering leases. The draft also says members would serve without compensation but be reimbursed for necessary expenses and allows the authority to be supported financially by tobacco tax receipts, municipal or county appropriations, legislative allocations, or private funds.

Commissioners discussed two versions of the draft: one containing language that would redirect taxes (subsection c) and one without. Commissioners said state legislators including Senator Price had requested copies of both versions; subsequent conversations between county staff and the legislators led to removal of subsection c before the commission vote. County staff told the commission the first paragraph of the draft could be amended to make clear the delegation was receiving versions "with or without the redirect tax language," and commissioners agreed to forward the draft while removing subsection c.

The motion to send the resolution to the legislative delegation was made, seconded, and approved by voice vote during the meeting.

What happens next: staff will transmit the approved draft to the local legislative delegation for introduction and further revision under the legislature's authority. The draft itself gives the legislature 30 days after passage of the act to hold the authority's organizational meeting and instructs that the authority shall meet at least quarterly.

Authorities cited in discussion included the draft statutory text as read to the commission (referencing statutory format and membership appointment details);

Clarifying details noted in the meeting: the county's draft included options "with and without" the tax-redirect language; county staff said subsection c was the specific provision removed; Senator Price and Representative Robertson were cited as having been consulted on the language; the draft lists multiple potential funding sources rather than a single dedicated revenue stream.

Ending: The commission's vote forwards the draft to the legislative delegation; any final authority, funding, or changes to powers named in the draft will be determined by the state legislature if it moves forward.