HB 584 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Public education; screen-based instruction limited in kindergarten through fifth grade, State Board of Education required to adopt standards, Instructional Technology Task Force established

This bill establishes the Alabama Balanced Instruction and Screen Use Act to limit screen-based instruction in kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms. It defines screen-based instruction as delivering educational content primarily through digital devices like laptops or tablets instead of direct teacher-led instruction. The bill requires the State Board of Education to adopt standards for screen use, including regular vision breaks and compliance with privacy laws. An Elementary Instructional Technology Task Force will be established to review research on screen use and make recommendations annually until 2030. Exceptions are made for online high school courses, summer school, and brief technology use for formative assessments during teacher-led instruction.

Issues: ✗ Education ✗ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 5, 2026 Last action Apr 1, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Engrossed · 7 edits · Mar 31, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was expanded from applying only to kindergarten through fifth grade to cover kindergarten through twelfth grade. This change extends the state's screen-use standards to high school students, aligning the bill with a separate act focused on early childhood development. The bill also updated the task force composition to include high school teachers and expanded the list of required standards to include data privacy compliance and specific educational value criteria.

Scope change

The bill's applicability was expanded from K-5 to K-12.

SCOPE

The grade levels covered by the new screen-based instruction standards were changed from kindergarten through fifth grade to kindergarten through twelfth grade.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were added to mandate that screen-based instruction must comply with state and federal privacy and data protection laws.

New requirements were added to ensure screen-based instruction has clear educational value or involves critical thinking activities like coding and research.

The composition of the Instructional Technology Task Force was updated to include one high school teacher and nationally recognized experts in child development and cognitive science.

New standards were added requiring regular vision breaks, such as the 20-20-20 rule, for students using screens.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'screen-based instruction' was updated to clarify it refers to using digital devices in lieu of direct teacher-led instruction.

ENFORCEMENT

New authority was granted to the State Department of Education to adopt rules necessary to enforce compliance with the act.

Floor votes

How they voted

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

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Education Policy)

upper

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1114

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1113

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

Collins 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1112

lower

Mar 31, 2026

Introduced

Education Policy Engrossed Substitute Offered (Education Policy)

lower

Mar 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors