HB 266 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act, providing for a nontraditional high school diploma option for students 17 years of age and older who withdraw from school through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System; to provide for the sharing of data on students who drop out of high school; and to provide that participating students are eligible for driver's licenses

HB 266, known as the REACH Act, establishes a nontraditional high school diploma option for students aged 17 and older who have withdrawn from traditional high school. This program is administered through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System. Students participating in this option become eligible for driver's licenses. A key provision ensures that students who enroll in this program within one year of withdrawing will not be counted as dropouts for their former high school's graduation rate calculations. The bill also facilitates data sharing on students who drop out between educational bodies.

Issues: ✓ Education

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

House Passage

Feb 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

May 2025

Introduced Feb 12, 2025 Signed May 14, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 3 edits · May 14, 2025

MINOR

The bill was finalized from its Engrossed version to the Enrolled version, incorporating minor formatting adjustments and adding a specific driver's license provision. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a new requirement for the Alabama Community College System to utilize federal funding mechanisms (Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act) to accelerate diploma completion. Additionally, the bill now explicitly allows participation in the new diploma program to serve as a valid reason for individuals under 19 to obtain a driver's license.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded to include a new eligibility benefit for driver's licenses and added specific mandates for utilizing federal funding sources to support the program.

ELIGIBILITY

Participation in the nontraditional high school diploma option is now explicitly listed as a valid reason for an individual under the age of 19 to receive a driver's or learner's license.

FISCAL

The bill now requires the use of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act and Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act to accelerate the achievement of high school diplomas.

TECHNICAL

Minor formatting changes were made to the bill header and page numbering to reflect the final enrolled status.

Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

May 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 957

upper

Mar 5, 2025

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Feb 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Education Policy)

upper

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 236

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 235

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Introduced

Smith 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 234

lower

Feb 25, 2025

Introduced

Education Policy Engrossed Substitute Offered (Education Policy)

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

Feb 19, 2025

Introduced

Education Policy 1st Amendment (Education Policy)

lower

Feb 12, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors