by SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
Senate President Pro Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman) has pre-filed legislation to repeal Senate Bill 322, aiming to block a proposed resort development on Smith Lake by preventing annexation and the creation of a community development district (CDD).
The move follows intense public opposition in Cullman County, where residents and local officials raised concerns about infrastructure costs, tax revenue loss, and a lack of transparency surrounding the proposed development.
“Residents in the Smith Lake area have made it clear that this is the wrong project in the wrong place with the wrong incentives,” Gudger said. “It is my job as state senator to stand tall for my constituents’ beliefs and desires.”
SB322, passed in 2025, allowed non-contiguous land to be annexed by a “wet” municipality and enabled a developer-led CDD to manage resort amenities. The proposed $250 million resort, backed by developer Jeff Tolbert, included plans for hotels, dining, a marina, and recreational amenities.
Despite assurances that gambling would be prohibited, rumors linking the project to casino interests and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians added to public skepticism. Cullman County Commissioner Corey Freeman and the county commission formally opposed the legislation in a resolution earlier this year.
“I pledge that this repeal will be passed by the Senate and sent to the House as soon as possible,” Gudger said.
The repeal bill, pre-filed as SB12, will be taken up in the 2026 legislative session. Local residents and leaders are watching closely, hopeful that the repeal will restore local control and prevent unwanted development.