This bill expands the types of single-dose epinephrine devices that schools and authorized entities in Alabama are permitted to carry and use to treat life-threatening allergic reactions. Currently, only specific autoinjector devices are approved for student self-administration and school stockpiling, but this legislation would allow any FDA-approved premeasured single-dose epinephrine system to be used for this purpose. The changes apply to public and nonpublic schools, school staff, and students who have received proper medical authorization and training for self-administration. The bill also maintains existing protections that shield schools and trained personnel from liability when following established protocols for emergency response to allergic reactions.
HB 376 requires Alabama public K-12 schools to implement age-appropriate screen time limits and internet access restrictions for each grade level. It mandates the State Board of Education to create a model policy for technology use in classrooms, which local school boards must adopt and implement by the 2027-2028 school year. The bill also requires schools to provide parents with access to a list of instructional technology used in their child's classroom and, upon request, details about device usage and browsing history. All instructional technology must support learning, avoid distractions, comply with privacy laws, and be evidence-based. The State Board must adopt implementing rules to enforce these requirements.
This resolution (HJR 189) is a non-binding legislative expression of support for increased funding for Career and Technical Education (CTE) in Alabama. It urges the Alabama Legislature to appropriate an additional $150 million in the 2026 session to expand CTE programs, building on prior funding of $100 million allocated for regional career technology centers. The resolution highlights that 34% of Alabama jobs by 2031 will require post-high school education below a bachelor’s degree, and CTE prepares students for key industries like bioscience and advanced materials. It directly affects Alabama’s public school districts and students participating in CTE programs by advocating for future state funding to support infrastructure and training. As a resolution, it does not allocate funds but formally recommends this action to the Legislature.
HB 377 expands Alabama's veterans' educational benefits to include graduate-level courses in medical fields for eligible dependents, such as children, spouses, and widows of veterans who were killed, disabled, missing in action, or prisoners of war. Previously, benefits covered only undergraduate studies, but this bill extends them to graduate medical programs without altering existing tuition limits. The bill maintains current caps of $400 per semester hour for tuition and $1,000 per semester for books/fees for private school students, with the change taking effect July 31, 2026.
HB 449 establishes Alabama's state lottery system by creating the Alabama Lottery Corporation to operate and regulate lottery games. It sets up the Alabama Lottery Trust Fund, directing revenue to five specific uses: problem gambling treatment, college scholarships for public two-year and four-year institutions, cost-of-living raises for education employees, hospital operation grants, and tax credits for eligible residents. The bill also creates a Board of Directors to oversee the corporation, imposes advertising restrictions to limit appeals to minors, and increases criminal penalties for violations like selling tickets to minors or counterfeiting. This bill directly affects all Alabama residents through lottery participation and the allocation of lottery revenue to state programs.
HB 489 adds independent postsecondary online institutions located in Orange Beach, Alabama, to the list of schools eligible for the Alabama Student Grant Program. This program provides state-funded grants to Alabama residents attending approved colleges and universities. The bill updates the legal code to include these institutions, requiring them to be accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. If enacted, the change would allow students at qualifying online institutions in Orange Beach to access state financial aid.
SB 311 appropriates $121 million from Alabama's Education Trust Fund to the State Department of Education for the 2026 fiscal year. It directly provides $1 million to each school designated as a "priority school" on the 2024-2025 AAA Priority School List. The funds are intended to support these specific schools, with the allocation calculated as $1 million per qualifying school. The bill becomes effective June 1, 2026.
HB 480 changes how Alabama counties and municipalities distribute sales tax revenue from the simplified sellers use tax (SSUT). It requires each county and municipality to allocate a minimum of 40% of their SSUT proceeds to local school boards serving their area, instead of keeping the funds for general use. This applies to all counties and municipalities that haven't already adopted such a policy by October 1, 2027. The bill takes effect January 1, 2028, redirecting existing sales tax revenue directly to public schools. It repeals the current monthly distribution requirement for these funds.
HB 517 (the TRAIN Act) creates a new "workforce teaching certificate" allowing qualified industry workers to teach career and technical education courses in public schools. Employers who loan these certified employees to schools can claim tax credits. The bill also shields certificate holders from personal liability for routine teaching duties (excluding willful misconduct), aligning with existing state law. This directly affects current industry workers seeking teaching roles, their employers, and public schools offering technical training programs.
HB 520 creates a streamlined process for career and technical education (CTE) teachers moving to Alabama from another state to obtain Alabama teaching certification without additional testing or coursework. To qualify, applicants must hold a valid out-of-state CTE teaching certificate, submit an application with fees, secure a local superintendent's recommendation, and pass a background check. Once approved, Alabama's State Superintendent of Education must issue the certification promptly for CTE courses only, with no extra requirements. The bill also requires annual reporting on certificate issuance, school placements, and program effectiveness to the Governor and legislature.
