Education in Alabama | MyRepTracker

signed · Alabama · Senate Apr 8, 2026

SB 248: Religious instruction; elective credit for release time further provided for

SB 248 prevents public school students from being excused from required classes or mandated student interventions (like tutoring) to attend religious instruction during school hours. It directly affects students in public schools and school districts that previously allowed "release time" for religious activities. The bill amends existing law to explicitly state that no student may be excused for religious purposes, overriding any prior practice. This changes the policy by removing an exception that allowed time off for religious instruction during required instructional periods.

Topics ✓ Education

in committee · Alabama · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 434: Simplified sellers use tax, distribution of proceeds revised

HB 434 changes how Alabama's simplified sellers use tax (SSUT) revenue is distributed. It reduces the portion going to the Education Trust Fund and redirects those funds directly to local school boards based on student enrollment. Specifically, it reallocates funds previously sent to the Education Trust Fund (25% under current law) to local boards of education, while keeping the same total allocation percentages for counties and municipalities. This bill directly affects local school districts by increasing their funding from SSUT proceeds, and the Education Trust Fund by reducing its share. The change would take effect on October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Sales Tax

in committee · Alabama · House Feb 5, 2026

HB 396: Public school grading system, revised to include and weight specific indicators for schools that include a 12th grade class and schools that do not include a 12th grade class; Alabama Workforce Development Board and State Department of Education to develop system to analyze student performance data, Accountability Council created

HB 396 revises Alabama's public school grading system to create separate evaluation formulas for schools with and without 12th grade. Schools without 12th grade use weighted metrics focused on academic achievement (40%), growth (40%), and growth for low-performing students (20%). Schools with 12th grade include additional college and career readiness indicators (30%) and graduation rates (10%), such as ACT scores, dual enrollment, or industry credentials. The bill requires the Alabama Workforce Board and State Department of Education to develop a system for tracking student outcomes related to these readiness metrics, and creates an Accountability Council to review the grading system. This directly affects all Alabama public K-12 schools through their annual accountability ratings.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

in committee · Alabama · House Feb 19, 2026

HB 382: Public institutions of higher education; accreditation standards further provided for; adverse actions taken by accrediting agencies against public institutions of higher education for compliance with state law, prohibited; civil actions against accrediting agencies for violations, authorized

HB 382 protects Alabama's public colleges and universities from accreditation penalties for following state law. It prohibits accrediting agencies from punishing institutions (like revoking accreditation) for complying with state law, unless federal law overrides that state law. The bill allows public university boards to sue accrediting agencies that violate this rule and requires them to report such violations to the legislature. This applies specifically to institutions seeking or maintaining accreditation through nationally recognized agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Education. The law ensures state educational policies cannot be undermined by external accreditation requirements.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Higher Education

in committee · Alabama · House Feb 24, 2026

HJR 171: State Legislature urged to address food insecurity and expand SNAP eligibility in state

This resolution (HJR 171) urges the Alabama legislature to take specific actions to address food insecurity and support Black farmers. It recommends expanding SNAP eligibility by raising income thresholds and reducing barriers, investing in nutrition incentive programs like Double Bucks, adopting Summer EBT for children, and supporting Black farmers through equitable land access and credit. The resolution also proposes creating a Food Security & Equity Task Force and funding universal school meals. As a non-binding resolution, it does not change law but formally asks the legislature to consider these policy changes.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare

Sub-Topics Student Health

in committee · Alabama · Senate Jan 13, 2026

SB 34: Imagination Library of Alabama Program, Department of Early Childhood Education to administer through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

SB 34 proposes creating the Imagination Library of Alabama Program, which would provide free age-appropriate books monthly to children aged birth to five in participating counties through Dolly Parton's existing Imagination Library program. The bill requires Alabama's Department of Early Childhood Education to coordinate with a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to administer the program, matching local funding at 50% to cover book costs. It establishes a special fund for donations, grants, and state appropriations to support the initiative, with funds not expiring annually. The program would directly affect Alabama children and local communities by delivering books to homes at no cost to families while requiring local partners to contribute matching funds.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Libraries

in committee · Alabama · House Jan 20, 2026

HB 294: Alabama Professional Workforce Protection Act; state list of professional careers designated; eligibility for state workforce development programs, grants, scholarships, and loan repayment mandated

HB 294, the Alabama Professional Workforce Protection Act, creates a state list of professional careers requiring advanced education or licensing - including nursing, teaching, engineering, healthcare, and accounting - and mandates that individuals in these fields become eligible for existing state workforce development programs, scholarships, and loan repayment initiatives. The bill specifically includes occupations like registered nurses, teachers, mental health counselors, and licensed engineers, which were excluded from federal professional classifications. It requires state agencies to recognize these professions in workforce planning and program eligibility without altering existing licensing board authority. The law aims to address workforce shortages by ensuring these critical professions access state-supported career development resources.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Healthcare ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Healthcare Workforce Medical Licensing Mental Health Professional Licensing Public Employees Workforce Development

in committee · Alabama · Senate Jan 21, 2026

SB 191: Homeschooling Opportunities for Military Education (HOME) Act; active military to provide notice and comply with state law relating to home schooled students; local school systems to provide equal access to JROTC programs, facilities, special education services to certain nonenrolled students, and interscholastic activities

SB 191, the Homeschooling Opportunities for Military Education (HOME) Act, requires active-duty military parents (with a "bona fide change in duty station" due to relocation orders) to notify their local school superintendent if homeschooling their children and comply with state homeschooling laws. The bill mandates that school systems provide these military homeschool students equal access to public school facilities, equipment, and special education services if they have disabilities, and must allow them to participate in interscholastic sports and activities within their district, subject to standard eligibility requirements. It specifically applies to children of military members whose relocation is ordered by the military, not all homeschoolers. The law aims to ensure military-connected students receive consistent educational opportunities during relocations.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics Special Education

signed · Alabama · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 235: Supplemental appropriations from the Education Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026

HB 235 provides $419.7 million in supplemental funding from Alabama's Education Trust Fund for the 2026 fiscal year, primarily supporting education and workforce programs. The bill allocates funds to school systems for fleet renewal ($66.5M), school safety initiatives ($50M), college and career readiness programs, specialized schools (like cyber and healthcare academies), public libraries, and universities for facility maintenance and research. Additional funding includes $3 million for Alzheimer's prevention research through Hudson Alpha and $100 million from the CHOOSE Act Fund to the Department of Revenue. These funds directly affect Alabama's public schools, colleges, libraries, and healthcare facilities by addressing infrastructure, safety, and educational program needs.

Topics ✓ Education ✓ Transportation

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Safety

passed · Alabama · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 74: Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services

SB 74 renames Alabama's AMSTEP program to the LASEA Program (Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama) and expands eligibility to include teachers certified in *any* state-identified acute educator shortage area - not just math, science, or computer science. It provides standard loan assistance to educators in shortage fields and adds supplemental payments for those working in schools or districts designated as having acute shortages (determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education with the State Department of Education). The bill directly affects public K-12 teachers in shortage subjects and their schools, aiming to attract and retain educators in high-need areas through financial incentives. It also requires the commission to develop an accountability plan for the program’s evaluation.

Topics ✓ Education

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

All education bills