Rep. Danny Garrett

Maddy summaryHB 178 modifies the process for consolidating city school systems and their governing boards. It requires a majority of qualified voters residing in the combined territory of all affected city schools to approve such consolidations, replacing the prior voting threshold. This change directly affects cities considering merging their school districts and boards. The State Board of Education must also adopt implementing rules for this new process.

Maddy summaryHB 236 allocates $275.1 million from the Education Trust Fund to Alabama's public universities (including the University of Alabama System and Alabama A&M) and $624.9 million to specialized schools (like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology), the Department of Education, and local education entities for fiscal year 2026. The total $900 million appropriation supports educational programs across the state, with specific amounts designated for each institution and district. Funds will be distributed per existing state education budgeting procedures without new policy changes. This is a funding measure, not a policy reform.

Maddy summaryHB 250 amends Alabama's tax code to exclude employer contributions to "Trump Accounts" from an individual's gross income and makes permanent the existing exclusion for employer-paid qualified education loan payments. The bill directly affects Alabama taxpayers who receive these employer benefits, as it prevents these amounts from being counted as taxable income. Key provisions include updating Section 40-18-14 to add Trump Account contributions to the list of excluded items and removing the temporary nature of the education loan exclusion. This creates a permanent tax advantage for workers receiving these specific employer benefits under Alabama law.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 151 repeals the law creating the Physicians Advisory Board for the University of Alabama School of Medicine. This board previously provided advice to the University of Alabama Board of Trustees on medical school operations. The bill removes this advisory body from state law without creating new policies or affecting students, faculty, or patients. It is a straightforward repeal of an existing administrative structure, with no new requirements or impacts on healthcare services. The repeal takes effect on October 1, 2026.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the College and Higher Education Excellence and Results (CHEER) Act, which establishes a new funding mechanism for Alabama's public higher education institutions. The legislation creates a dedicated CHEER Fund that will provide bonus funding to colleges and universities that meet specific performance goals related to student outcomes such as retention, completion rates, and post-graduation employment in high-demand or high-wage fields. The bill defines eligible institutions to include all Alabama public universities and community colleges, and establishes an Outcomes-Based Higher Education Funding Coordinating Committee to set performance metrics and oversee fund distribution. Funding will be distributed by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education based on how well institutions perform against established benchmarks, with special provisions for premier research universities that demonstrate growth in external research revenue.

Maddy summaryHB 238 appropriates funds from Alabama's Education Trust Fund for public education support, maintenance, and development during fiscal year 2027 (ending September 30, 2027). It allocates specific amounts for programs like charter school startup grants ($31.5 million), arts education ($9.6 million), and school infrastructure debt service, with funding sources specified as Education Trust Fund contributions and other federal/local funds. The bill directs these funds to state education programs under existing budget laws, requiring accountability for efficient fund use. It does not create new programs but authorizes spending for current educational operations and capital projects.

Maddy summaryHB 237 transfers $362.45 million from Alabama's Educational Opportunities Reserve Fund to the RAISE Fund for the 2026 fiscal year, with $137.55 million specifically allocated to 13 public higher education institutions. The funding supports start-up or transitional programs at Alabama's public colleges and universities to expand student educational opportunities. Institutions like the University of Alabama System ($31.8 million), Auburn University ($15.3 million), and Alabama Community College System ($51.3 million) receive targeted allocations for these initiatives. The bill redirects existing reserve funds without creating new taxes or spending.

Maddy summaryHB 152 repeals the law that established the School of Social Work of Alabama as a two-year graduate program within the University of Alabama. It removes Section 16-47-170 and related provisions from Alabama law, which previously defined the school's structure and purpose. The repeal takes effect on October 1, 2026, but does not eliminate the school itself - only its specific legal foundation under current statutes.

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes changing Alabama's official state song from "Alabama" to "Stars Fell on Alabama." It achieves this by amending state law to officially recognize "Stars Fell on Alabama" as the state song, while explicitly stating that this change does not violate copyright laws. The legislation also clarifies that counties, cities, and state agencies remain free to use other songs for local or ceremonial purposes. If passed, the new designation would take effect on October 1, 2026.