HB 517 Alabama House · 2026 Regular Session

Talent Readiness and Industry Needs (TRAIN) Act, qualified employees authorized to teach a career and technical education program, tax credits provided to employers that loan qualified employees, workforce teaching certificate established

HB 517 (the TRAIN Act) creates a new "workforce teaching certificate" allowing qualified industry workers to teach career and technical education courses in public schools. Employers who loan these certified employees to schools can claim tax credits. The bill also shields certificate holders from personal liability for routine teaching duties (excluding willful misconduct), aligning with existing state law. This directly affects current industry workers seeking teaching roles, their employers, and public schools offering technical training programs.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Apr 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Apr 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Feb 26, 2026 Signed Apr 17, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · Apr 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into its enrolled version, which includes substantive policy updates to broaden the program's scope and refine definitions. Key changes include adding 'skilled trades' to the industries supported, allowing businesses to donate funds for curriculum or salary supplements in addition to loaning employees, and expanding the list of eligible organizations to include community development foundations.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include skilled trades and to allow for financial donations (beyond just employee loans) to support curriculum and salaries.

SCOPE

Added 'skilled trades' to the list of in-demand industries supported by the program.

FISCAL

Expanded employer incentives to include tax credits for making donations to eligible institutions for curriculum advancement and supplementing salaries, in addition to loaning employees.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'Community Development Foundation,' allowing these specific nonprofits to qualify as eligible educational institutions.

ELIGIBILITY

Updated the definition of 'Eligible Educational Institution' to include community development foundations alongside community colleges, local education agencies, and public high schools.

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

Apr 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Lomax motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1343

lower

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1256

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Elliott motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1255

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

Elliott 1st Amendment Offered

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Elliott motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1254

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

Elliott motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1253

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

Finance and Taxation Education 1st Amendment Offered (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Apr 8, 2026

Introduced

Finance and Taxation Education 2nd Amendment Offered (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Upper · Passed

Reported Out of Committee Second House

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Introduced

Finance and Taxation Education 2nd Amendment (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Apr 1, 2026

Introduced

Finance and Taxation Education 1st Amendment (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Pending Committee Action in Second House (Finance and Taxation Education)

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 747

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 746

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Lomax 1st Amendment Offered

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 745

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Introduced

Ways and Means Education 1st Substitute Offered (Ways and Means Education)

lower

Mar 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Feb 26, 2026

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Ways and Means Education)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors