Education

HB 50 would create the Imagination Library of Alabama Program to provide free monthly books to children aged birth to five in participating counties. The state program would coordinate with Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, requiring the Department of Early Childhood Education to contribute 50% of the program's costs (with local partners matching the other 50%). This directly affects Alabama families with young children in participating areas, as it provides books at no cost to families while establishing a state fund to accept donations and manage funding. The bill requires the state to adopt rules for administration and publicly report program enrollment and impact annually.

HB 23 prohibits public preK-12 teachers and staff from discussing gender identity or sexual orientation in classrooms for all grade levels (expanding current K-5 restrictions to all grades). It bans displaying LGBTQ+ flags or symbols on school property and requires staff to use pronouns matching a student's biological sex at birth. The bill directly affects all Alabama public school students, teachers, and staff in preK-12 settings. If enacted, it would take effect July 1, 2026, with the State Board of Education tasked with implementing enforcement rules.

SB 3 requires Alabama public K-12 schools to teach only abstinence-focused sex education, banning any instruction about contraception or abortion referrals. Parents must receive notice and can opt their children out of sex education classes. The bill mandates specific content, including pregnancy costs, abortion laws, adoption processes, and parenting responsibilities, while prohibiting demonstrations of contraceptive use or sexually explicit materials. School boards cannot partner with organizations that advocate for abortion or non-abstinence approaches, and the Attorney General is authorized to enforce these requirements.

This bill requires all Alabama public school districts to implement a policy allowing students to earn elective credit for attending religious instruction during the school day, provided specific conditions are met. It mandates parental consent, prohibits public funding for instruction, and requires private religious entities to handle transportation, liability, and attendance records. Students may earn credit equivalent to standard elective courses, but cannot be released from required core classes for this purpose. The policy directly affects public school students seeking religious instruction, local school boards (now required to adopt the policy), and private religious providers. It builds on a 1952 Supreme Court precedent upholding such programs, ensuring compliance with constitutional and legal standards.