Education

signed · Alabama · House Mar 31, 2026

HB 124: Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services

HB 124 renames Alabama's AMSTEP program to the LASEA Program (Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama) and expands eligibility to include educators certified in any subject designated as having an acute shortage by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE). The bill provides standard loan assistance to educators certified in shortage subjects and adds supplemental payments for those teaching in public K-12 schools or systems identified as having acute educator shortages. ACHE, in consultation with the State Department of Education, determines which subjects and school locations qualify as "acute shortage" areas. The program aims to attract and retain teachers in high-need fields and schools through targeted financial support.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands loan assistance and supplemental payments for educators in acute shortage subjects, directly supporting teacher recruitment and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

signed · Alabama · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 237: Education Opportunities Reserve Fund transfers for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026

HB 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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesTransfers $362M from education reserve to fund public higher ed programs, increasing state appropriations for essential education services.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationTransfers $362M to RAISE Fund, $137.55M to 13 public colleges for new programs expanding student educational opportunities.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

passed · Alabama · Senate Feb 19, 2026

SB 72: Alabama Commission on Higher Education, ReEngage Alabama Grant Program, minimum age of adult learner decreased, eligibility requirements revised

SB 72 lowers the minimum age for Alabama's ReEngage Alabama Grant Program from 25 to 22 years for adult learners pursuing their first associate or bachelor's degree. It also expands eligibility to include individuals who previously earned an associate degree, paused studies for two years, and are now seeking their first bachelor's degree without having received a prior grant. The program provides up to $3,000 per semester for university students and $1,500 for community college students to cover tuition and mandatory fees. This change directly affects Alabama residents aged 22+ returning to education after a break, making the grant accessible to a broader group of adult learners.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by lowering age requirement and broadening grant eligibility for adult learners, directly increasing financial aid availability.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

passed · Alabama · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 342: Taxation; participation in the federal tax credit for individuals making qualified contributions to scholarship granting organizations provided for

HB 342 allows Alabama to participate in a federal tax credit program that enables individuals to claim a credit on their federal income tax for contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). The bill requires the Alabama Department of Revenue to annually submit a list of qualifying SGOs in the state to the federal government and certify Alabama's participation. This ensures Alabama residents can use the federal credit for eligible contributions starting in tax years after 2026. The bill takes effect immediately and does not create a new state tax credit.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill enables federal tax credit for contributions to scholarship organizations, providing direct tax relief to individuals. This aligns with tax relief indicators for the Budget & Taxes topic.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables tax credits for private school scholarships via SGOs, expanding educational access for K-12 students through private school funding options.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Alabama · Senate Jan 29, 2026

SB 224: Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program, veterans, dependents, tuition assistance, disability requirements revised

SB 224 would amend Alabama’s G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program by lowering the minimum disability rating required for veterans’ dependents to qualify from 40% to 30%. This change would directly affect children and spouses of disabled veterans whose disability rating is 30-39% (previously excluded). The bill also establishes a pilot program to admit additional dependents of eligible veterans beyond current eligibility limits. These changes would adjust existing statutes (Sections 31-6-4, 31-6-6, and 31-6-9) to expand access to tuition assistance for veterans’ families. The bill is pending committee review as of its first reading on January 29, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by lowering disability rating requirement for veterans' dependents to qualify for tuition assistance scholarship program.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransLowers disability requirement from 40% to 30% for dependents' tuition assistance, expanding eligibility to previously excluded veterans' families.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

signed · Alabama · House Apr 17, 2026

HB 239: FY27 2% Teacher Pay Raise and Retiree Longevity Bonus

HB 239 would increase salaries for Alabama public education employees by 2% starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. It applies to K-12 teachers, support staff (including bus drivers), and employees at the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind (AIDB), as well as two-year postsecondary education staff. The bill requires all affected employees to receive this automatic increase regardless of experience level, with local salary schedules adjusted to reflect the change. The pay increase is mandated to be applied in addition to any existing step increases or local adjustments.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates 2% salary increase for public education staff via state budget appropriations, increasing government spending on public services.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates 2% automatic salary increases for K-12 teachers, support staff, and postsecondary educators, directly advancing teacher compensation and funding for public education employees.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates 2% automatic salary increase for public education employees, directly advancing wage standards in Labor & Employment without restrictions or defunding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

signed · Alabama · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 241: Talladega College, appropriation

HB 241 appropriates $1,372,572 from Alabama's Education Trust Fund to Talladega College for its 2027 fiscal year operations. The bill directly affects Talladega College, requiring it to submit an operations plan with performance goals, an audited financial statement for 2025, quarterly expenditure reports, and an end-of-year performance report before funds are released. All funding is subject to state budget laws and requires approval from the Director of Finance. The bill becomes effective October 1, 2026, and is pending committee review.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $1.37M from Education Trust Fund to Talladega College with performance requirements, directly advancing state budget appropriations for public education.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $1.37M from Education Trust Fund to Talladega College for operations, directly funding higher education as required by the bill's appropriation purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending State Budget Higher Education

signed · Alabama · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 242: Southern Preparatory Academy, appropriation

HB 242 appropriates $460,000 from Alabama's Education Trust Fund to Southern Preparatory Academy in Camp Hill for its educational program support during fiscal year 2027. The bill requires the academy to submit an operations plan, an audited financial statement for fiscal year 2025, and quarterly expenditure reports before receiving funds. It also mandates an end-of-year performance report detailing program effectiveness, costs, and accomplishments to the state Director of Finance. These requirements ensure accountability and compliance with Alabama's Budget and Financial Control Act. The funding becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $460k from Education Trust Fund to fund a school program, directly advancing state budget allocation for education as required by appropriations subject.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAppropriates $460k from Education Trust Fund for Southern Preparatory Academy's educational program support, directly funding school operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Government Spending

signed · Alabama · House Apr 8, 2026

HB 132: Crimes and offenses; assault in the second degree, revised

HB 132 revises Alabama's assault in the second degree law to expand protections for specific professionals during work. It adds new circumstances where assaulting peace officers (including off-duty officers in approved uniform), teachers, healthcare workers (including home health care providers), social workers, letter carriers, or children in schools during their duties constitutes second-degree assault. The bill specifies that these protections apply when the assault occurs while the victim is performing their job, with exceptions for assaults by impaired patients on healthcare workers. Assault in the second degree remains classified as a Class C felony under this revision.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands second-degree assault protections for professionals, strengthening legal safeguards in criminal justice by increasing penalties for assaulting specific workers during duties.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds teachers to protected professionals under assault law, enhancing educator safety during school duties95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly protects healthcare workers during work, aligning with topic's focus on medical professionals.80% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentProtects healthcare, education, and social workers from assault during duties, enhancing workplace safety protections for specific professions.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

signed · Alabama · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 133: Lamar County; privilege license tax, distribution of proceeds revised

HB 133 revises how Lamar County distributes revenue from its one-cent privilege license tax. The bill amends an existing law to clarify that the state may charge up to 5% of collected taxes for administrative services, and it changes the distribution: half of the tax revenue must go to Lamar County's public schools, while the other half is allocated for road construction and maintenance (with one-fourth per commissioner's district). This affects Lamar County taxpayers and directly impacts the county's school funding and infrastructure budgets. The changes update outdated language in the original 1977 law but do not alter the tax rate or overall revenue amount.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesDirects 50% of tax revenue to public schools and 50% to road infrastructure, increasing dedicated funding for essential public services through revised budget allocation.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates 50% of Lamar County's privilege tax revenue directly to public schools, increasing school funding as per education policy focus.90% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationBill allocates half of tax revenue specifically for road construction and maintenance, directly funding transportation infrastructure as a core provision.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Revenue School Funding Roads & Highways