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.
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.
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 The changes update outdated language in the original 1977 law but do not alter the tax rate or overall revenue amount.
SB 149 establishes a temporary teaching certificate for military veterans seeking to enter education. It directly affects veterans who qualify under this program but clarifies that time served under this temporary certificate won't count toward tenure or service status. The bill also prohibits individuals with this temporary certificate from later obtaining an emergency teaching certificate. These provisions create a specific pathway for veterans while defining the scope and limitations of their temporary certification.
SB 141 allocates $31.48 million from Alabama's Education Trust Fund (ETF) and other sources for public education support, maintenance, and development during fiscal year 2027. It specifically funds programs including $31.48 million for charter school startup grants, $8.52 million for the State Arts Council's Fine Arts Program, and $10.06 million for child abuse prevention services. The bill directs funds to public schools, charter schools, arts initiatives, and state education agencies, with most appropriations coming from the ETF and supplemental funds from federal/local sources. This appropriation does not create new policies but allocates existing state funds for designated educational purposes.
SB 111 creates the "Prepare Alabama Investment Program" to fund trade schools and vocational programs through state tax credits. It allows individuals and businesses to claim tax credits against Alabama income, excise, premium, or utility taxes when donating to eligible trade schools, community foundations, or workforce programs. These donations must be used exclusively for constructing, maintaining, or upgrading facilities that support career technical education. The program is overseen by a board within the Alabama Department of Workforce, which certifies eligible entities and publishes approved recipients annually.
HB 116 expands Alabama's Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program to include the Alabama Department of Public Health's regional emergency medical services (EMS) agencies. Currently, only Alabama Community College System schools, the Alabama Fire College, and the University of South Alabama could offer the required EMS education for tuition reimbursement. This bill adds designated EMS regional agencies under the Department of Public Health as eligible institutions to provide education and receive reimbursement. Students enrolled in these new programs would still need to contract to work for two years with volunteer rescue squads, fire departments, or ambulance services after obtaining their EMS license. The change primarily affects EMS students and volunteer emergency services organizations by broadening educational pathways for tuition assistance.
HB 233 expands Alabama's National Guard Educational Assistance Program to cover workforce development programs (such as certified training or non-degree courses) alongside traditional college degrees. It also adds eligibility for on-campus living expenses and meal plans. The bill removes the previous requirement for members to maintain a 3.0 GPA to qualify for basic tuition assistance, replacing it with revised eligibility rules. It repeals outdated qualification language but maintains the existing $10 million annual funding cap for the program. This directly affects Alabama National Guard members seeking education or training beyond standard academic programs.
HB 236 allocates $275.1 million from the Education Trust Fund to Alabama's public universities (including the University of Alabama System and Alabama A&M) and $624.9 million to specialized schools (like the Alabama School of Cyber Technology), the Department of Education, and local education entities for fiscal year 2026. The total $900 million appropriation supports educational programs across the state, with specific amounts designated for each institution and district. Funds will be distributed per existing state education budgeting procedures without new policy changes. This is a funding measure, not a policy reform.
HB 187, known as Alyssa's Law, requires all Alabama public K-12 schools to provide designated staff (including teachers, administrators, and support personnel who interact with students daily) with mobile emergency response systems by October 1, 2030. These systems must instantly connect to emergency services and pinpoint the user's location indoors (room/floor level) and on school grounds. The bill mandates school systems to train staff on the systems, requires the State Superintendent to approve vendors, and allows using existing school safety funds (like the School Security and Fire Safety Fund) for purchases. The law does not require staff to use personal devices, though schools may offer that option with written consent.
