Move on When Ready; program established to allow qualifying high school junior and seniors to enroll full time at eligible community college, course approval provided for, Move on When Ready Fund created, Alabama Community College System required to administer
SB 196 establishes a "Move on When Ready" program, allowing qualifying high school juniors and seniors to enroll full-time at participating two-year colleges, junior colleges, or four-year public institutions of higher education. The bill creates a dedicated fund to pay these institutions for courses taken by students in the program. The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) is responsible for administering the program in consultation with other education bodies. This legislation also includes provisions for adopting rules and establishes criminal penalties for anyone enabling an institution to wrongfully obtain funds, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Feb 25, 2025
Signed May 14, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
May 14, 2025
MODERATE
The bill was finalized as an enrolled version with minor formatting corrections to the title page and bill number. Substantively, the program's scope was expanded to include middle school and 9th-grade students in addition to 10th and 11th graders, and a new rule was added to prevent students enrolled in the program from being counted as high school dropouts if they fail to graduate. Additionally, the bill now explicitly prohibits enrolled students from participating in any school activities, including extracurriculars, while attending the postsecondary institution.
Scope change
The program's eligibility was expanded from only 10th and 11th graders to include middle school, 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students.
ELIGIBILITY
Expanded program eligibility to include middle school, 9th, 10th, and 11th-grade students, whereas the previous version only specified 10th and 11th graders.
REQUIREMENT
Added a prohibition requiring students enrolled in the program to refrain from participating in any high school activities, including extracurriculars, while taking courses at the postsecondary institution.
DEFINITION
Added a provision stating that eligible students who enroll in the program will not be counted as high school dropouts on state report cards if they fail to complete graduation requirements.
TECHNICAL
Corrected the bill title from 'Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' and updated the internal bill reference number.
Floor votes
How they voted
This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
24
Key actions
9
Committee
4
Amendments
4
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Orr Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 989
upper
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1165
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1164
lower
May 6, 2025
Introduced
Education Policy Engrossed Substitute Offered (Education Policy)
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported Out of Committee Second House (Education Policy)
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Introduced
Education Policy 2nd Amendment (Education Policy)
lower
Apr 16, 2025
Introduced
Education Policy 1st Amendment (Education Policy)
lower
Apr 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Pending Committee Action in Second House (Education Policy)
lower
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 608
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Upper · Passed
Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 607
upper
Apr 9, 2025
Introduced
Orr 1st Amendment Offered
upper
Feb 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
upper
Feb 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Finance and Taxation Education)
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Arthur Orr
RRepublican
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