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.
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.
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.
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.
HB 353 requires Alabama school districts to create an "Advanced Math Pathway" to prepare students for Algebra I in middle school and college-level math in high school. It automatically enrolls students who score proficient or higher on state math assessments (grades 5-11) but allows parents to opt their child in or out of the pathway. School districts must provide transparent information to families about math pathways, offer academic support for students in the pathway, and report annually to the legislature on enrollment, performance, and support usage. The bill directly affects students in grades 5-11, parents/guardians (through enrollment choices), and school districts (through implementation and reporting requirements).
HB 240 provides $16.3 million from Alabama's Education Trust Fund to Tuskegee University for the 2027 fiscal year to support its educational programs and operations. The bill requires Tuskegee to submit an operations plan and audited financial statements before funds are released, along with quarterly spending reports and a final year-end performance report. At least $2 million of the appropriation must be used for agricultural research and extension services. This funding supports Tuskegee University as a state-supported institution with a unique historical relationship to Alabama, distinct from public universities or private colleges.
SB 211 expands sick leave options for public education employees in Alabama. It allows direct sick leave donations between employees at different schools or institutions (like K-12 districts and public colleges), removes limits on how much extended medical leave an employee can donate, and requires the State Board of Education to create a model policy for this. All public education authorities (including local school boards and colleges) must adopt this policy, including provisions for sick leave banks and direct donations. The bill affects teachers, support staff, and administrators working in Alabama’s public education system.
HB 138 allows retirees from Alabama's Employees' or Teachers' Retirement Systems to work full-time as school bus drivers without losing their pension benefits, provided they meet specific conditions. Retirees must earn below an annual income limit (adjusted yearly for inflation) and have drawn retirement benefits for 12 consecutive months (with an exception for those retiring before January 1, 2026). The bill also sets an expiration date of December 31, 2030, for this provision. It directly affects retired state employees seeking to return to full-time bus driving roles.
HB 125 lowers the minimum age for Alabama's ReEngage Alabama Grant Program from 25 to 22 years old, expanding eligibility to younger adult learners. It also creates a new eligibility path for students who previously earned an associate degree, took a two-year break from college, and are now pursuing their first bachelor's degree without having received a grant before. The bill does not change the grant amounts ($3,000 per semester for universities, $1,500 for community colleges) or other core program rules. This directly affects Alabama residents aged 22-24 who are returning to college for their first bachelor's degree after an associate degree and a two-year gap. The bill is scheduled to take effect October 1, 2026.
HB 183 allows homeschool students in Alabama to enroll in public school career and technical education (CTE) programs starting in the 2027-2028 school year, provided they pay the same course fees as public school students and enroll as non-enrolled participants. It requires public schools to consider homeschool students for CTE programs only after filling spots with current public school students if capacity is limited. Full-time, standalone CTE schools may choose not to accept homeschool students, but all other public schools must follow the rules. The State Board of Education and local school boards must create specific policies to implement these provisions.
