The commission, as an agency of the State of Alabama, shall constitute a nonprofit governmental agency and shall have a tax-exempt status, and the properties of the commission and the income therefrom, all lease agreements and contracts made by it shall be forever exempt from any and all taxation by the State of Alabama and any political subdivision thereof, including, but not limited to, income, admission, amusement, excise, sales, use and ad valorem taxes.
Ala. Code § 41-9-256 (1975)