Education

HB 78 sets age-based screen time limits for children in early childhood education settings, directly affecting licensed child-care facilities, prekindergarten programs, and public kindergarten classrooms in Alabama. It prohibits screen time for children under two, limits it to 30 minutes daily (90 minutes weekly) for ages two to four, and requires all screen use to be "high-quality" and adult-supervised. The bill mandates annual staff training on screen time guidelines and requires the Department of Early Childhood Education to develop and publicly share free, research-based guidelines for parents. Compliance is tied to facility licensure and enforced by the Department of Human Resources, Department of Early Childhood Education, and local school boards. The law aims to align with pediatric recommendations by reducing excessive screen exposure during critical developmental years.

HB 75 requires Alabama public high schools to excuse students from class during instructional time for organized National Signing Day events related to athletic scholarships, college commitments, apprenticeships, or military enlistment. The bill directly affects high school students participating in these specific opportunities, ensuring they can attend without academic penalties. Schools must provide reasonable accommodations like meeting spaces with internet access for these activities. The law would take effect on October 1, 2026, if passed.

HB 50 would create the Imagination Library of Alabama Program to provide free monthly books to children aged birth to five in participating counties. The state program would coordinate with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, requiring the Department of Early Childhood Education to contribute 50% of the program's costs (with local partners matching the other 50%). This directly affects Alabama families with young children in participating areas, as it provides books at no cost to families while establishing a state fund to accept donations and manage funding. The bill requires the state to adopt rules for administration and publicly report program enrollment and impact annually.

This bill requires all Alabama public school districts to implement a policy allowing students to earn elective credit for attending religious instruction during the school day, provided specific conditions are met. It mandates parental consent, prohibits public funding for instruction, and requires private religious entities to handle transportation, liability, and attendance records. Students may earn credit equivalent to standard elective courses, but cannot be released from required core classes for this purpose. The policy directly affects public school students seeking religious instruction, local school boards (now required to adopt the policy), and private religious providers. It builds on a 1952 Supreme Court precedent upholding such programs, ensuring compliance with constitutional and legal standards.