HB 288 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Commission on Higher Education; authorized to award loan assistance to athletic trainers under Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program

House Bill 288 authorizes the Alabama Commission on Higher Education to award loan assistance to licensed athletic trainers. This assistance would be provided under the existing Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program. A maximum of 10 percent of annual appropriations for the program can be allocated to athletic trainers, who must not also receive grants from the Athletic Trainer Secondary School Incentive Program. The bill prioritizes eligible educators for loan assistance before awarding it to athletic trainers if funding is limited, and requires the commission to develop an accountability plan for the program.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 13, 2025 Signed May 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 3 edits · May 14, 2025

MINOR

The bill was finalized from its Engrossed version to the Enrolled version with significant substantive changes. The primary addition is a requirement for the Commission to develop an accountability and evaluation plan. Additionally, the definition of 'Qualifying Institutions' was narrowed to include only public K-12 schools and specific private associations, excluding community colleges and universities. A new eligibility criterion was added to prevent double-dipping by prohibiting recipients from also receiving the Athletic Trainer Secondary School Incentive Program grant.

Scope change

The scope of institutions eligible to receive loan assistance was narrowed. Previously, the bill included community colleges and four-year institutions of higher education; the final version restricts eligibility to public K-12 schools and specific private school associations.

REQUIREMENT

Added a mandate for the Commission to develop an accountability and evaluation plan to oversee the program.

ELIGIBILITY

Narrowed the definition of 'Qualifying Institutions' to exclude community colleges and four-year institutions, limiting benefits to public K-12 schools and specific private associations.

Added a new eligibility requirement stating that applicants cannot receive or intend to receive a grant from the Athletic Trainer Secondary School Incentive Program.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2025

Lower · Passed

Mooney Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1195

lower

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 982

upper

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Chesteen motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 981

upper

May 6, 2025

Introduced

Finance and Taxation Education 1st Amendment Offered (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Apr 23, 2025

Introduced

Finance and Taxation Education 1st Amendment (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 602

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 601

lower

Apr 1, 2025

Introduced

Collins 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Feb 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Feb 13, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors