[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6650276,"mediaKeyId","2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e","parentId",2508498,"title","Senate committee holds public hearing on bill to require display of the 10 Commandments in public schools","audioSeconds",1309,"startMs",2306000,"endMs",3615000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e&start=2306&end=3615","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e/thumbnail_2306000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6650276/Alabama/Senate-committee-holds-public-hearing-on-bill-to-require-display-of-the-10-Commandments-in-public-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650276-72e1563383077b7957a49d5c5ec71264/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574769&Signature=DJ6ijHUa2AWXWBqMuxnygh~WynQwCvNUAGH4VvZHc23eXIJpOy1BfGmmtskhe8sv9OVxeXri8pKGviirxxK56vJSkLUInnraJbvbfN5eopG6W9dbbKti5xBTlzVm3XkLnE6dgRs5T8edydtpwEPaQm1QRtUOYbbiw3aprUNQB7fIa7akq3LxY61GO1G9~JpN1mNXQ8dJ00tsc828zM8aKJuuun27MD-55WOkq-DtsLQ3-Xbuf3X6lHl~JKTdw5nGnWPo7lULJnyZHLycxFrZ798gs3edI~Wmp~C3RlXO7pJQSkLvcIhJDBD0H2fGLeIH7~MwBs2kFzC4~QwIpR3HUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama Senate Sessions","date","2025-03-05T20:55:53.57Z","article","Senator Kelly introduced SB 166 and described the bill as requiring each local board of education to display the 10 Commandments in a common area in schools under its jurisdiction. Kelly said the bill would not require school boards to use public funds for the displays and directed the state Department of Education to publicize free resources for compliance.

Senator Kelly framed the measure as recognizing the historical influence of the 10 Commandments on Western legal traditions and American culture. “What this bill does, it would require each local board, to display the 10 commandments in a common area, in a school under its jurisdiction,” he said.

The committee heard four opponents and four proponents in a public hearing. Opponents — including Reverend Lynn Hopkins, Rabbi Steven Silberman, Reverend Eric Clark and Reverend Julie Conradi — said placing the commandments in public schools raises constitutional and pluralism concerns, could privilege one religious tradition over others and was a matter for faith communities rather than public schools. Reverend Hopkins said it is “patently false” to claim the posting is not specific to any religion. Rabbi Silberman told the committee that “placement of displays in our schools is an intrusion to the minds and the hearts of our students.” Reverend Conradi presented a clergy letter signed by 36 members of multiple faith traditions opposing the bill.

Proponents — including Jim Love, John Wall (chairman of the Alabama Republican Party who spoke in support), Becky Garretson of Eagle Forum and John Idzmo (pastor and constitutional law professor) — argued the commandments reflect historical legal principles and moral values. Garretson cited a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision (referred to in testimony as the Kennedy decision) and said that it permits returning the commandments to public display without violating constitutional limits. John Idzmo said, “just putting a plaque on the wall is not compelling belief.”

The chair announced the committee would not vote at the hearing and that the bill would be carried over for further consideration; the committee adjourned at the end of the hearing.

Public hearing outcome: SB 166 received testimony from multiple opponents and proponents; no committee vote was taken. The committee chair said the item will be called up again at a later date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Senate Education Policy Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Senator Kelly’s bill to require local boards to display the 10 Commandments in a common area of public schools prompted a public hearing with multiple proponents and opponents; the committee did not vote and will hold the bill for further consideration.","taxTitle","Senate, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",62183,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650281,"Committee advances bill allowing parents to provide vaccine religious exemptions directly to schools",675,1602000,2277000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e&start=1602&end=2277","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e/thumbnail_1602000.jpg","/articles/6650281/Alabama/Committee-advances-bill-allowing-parents-to-provide-vaccine-religious-exemptions-directly-to-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650281-229b127d93d74658ebff44c3a187685e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574769&Signature=LEGlTo37IOfhGS7adG6x8sAfr21Egm~uilzrNVJKyBhusXodHZtGjJgTPbtXOJNG6-Ib5Bxen2d3dKQlXktVrCVbuo81wTRZq92pdFtVGq7xcPnmn-Th9Zr1dKK6k6hw83OR9h3sXnEM810gIeGWyAqZ59iqOMxOxGFx0J2u1a1c4tqMsYz1n9Ijmm6XaOHMZGWtrDHg4uqRSnJhxFjb7qUEhFDAORkIqyO7LHA7kRTriQCAYz4I2YebeXpTai~ZIwOHOWL6Mcq0D7IRc6zJpWqDDUYGrbK~35IqDxhAYjUIYPJFrNR4rW4htqQgeZfyCtMRhslL2ahblvJMQEXgVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator Orr, sponsor of SB 85, told the committee the bill would allow parents to provide a written religious-exemption notice directly to their child’s school rather than obtaining a certificate from the county public health department. Orr said the current process requires parents to visit the public health office where they can be questioned about beliefs and in some localities were charged a fee.

Orr read a list of states that allow parents to submit a written exemption directly to schools as examples of existing practice in other jurisdictions. He argued the change would respect parental religious objections and remove what he described as an intrusive step in the county health-office process.

Aprille Hartsfield, Alabama Kids Count director with Voices for Alabama’s Children, testified in opposition. “Our concern about this bill is the effect it will likely have on the population of children at large in our state, especially children who are immunosuppressed and infants too young for vaccinations,” she said. Hartsfield told senators the current reporting system helps health officials identify where outbreaks occur and deploy resources.

Senator Hatcher asked for clarification about tracking and whether the state’s central immunization registry would continue to identify vaccinated children and those without vaccinations; testimony acknowledged a state database exists for vaccinations but said existing practice for exemptions stops at a local level and that the bill could reduce visibility on who is unvaccinated.

Senator Shownate moved a favorable report; Senator Price seconded. The committee recorded the bill as passing out of committee with six favorable votes and two abstentions, and the chair announced the bill through the favorable report.

Votes at a glance: SB 85 — favorable report (moved by Senator Shownate; seconded by Senator Price). Tally: 6 yes, 0 no, 2 abstentions (as announced by the committee chair).","Senator Orr’s bill, which would let parents submit religious-exemption notices directly to local schools rather than the county health department, drew objections about outbreak tracking and was reported favorably with several abstentions.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6650286,"Representative Woods’ bill would expand outreach to high-school dropouts, lower diploma age to 18",876,720000,1596000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e&start=720&end=1596","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2508498-e45d0d28a15bc5bfa3a5d83a0d11426e/thumbnail_720000.jpg","/articles/6650286/Alabama/Representative-Woods-bill-would-expand-outreach-to-high-school-dropouts-lower-diploma-age-to-18","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6650286-f82d13f84ad2455befb65f2fe615ee62/orig.mp4?Expires=1773574769&Signature=ESGcF6a7w-emDM6JcG5nB4tQrz-f5CRwoIj2wOe7D-aby9GsUuTqdlNw855uK6R34fH2Pugg-na-3Qxxg7CWOHlZ2~OOebH50I~9oNR48PCXNSb4XGo9Y8uMovkxk-lCX7lHDqPwFpuV5usfIBuvdBJEiK2sIJjRLdxPmO5LXxZRZU~hsj2VKcYpZZKCDVQXG8vMhx9xIclBC4fT3mPdWzGMqhDDeJ8mk~eFPu~JJtaG5kG2F4RwojHe70neAP6wXjy08r6WnTSZ7eMC0ZmFeFCVZjrfPTkTH3L8bMcI3PWjzQyVHUD88RGImF0l5Qkx18NoT8gDeNbBl9oAixeOqA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representative Woods introduced HB 266, the ‘‘Restoring Educational Attainment of Completing High School Act’’ (the REACH Act), saying the bill is intended to “reach students who have dropped out of high school to give them a second chance” and to increase employability by putting students on an educational pathway.

The bill would require the State Department of Education to report, at least quarterly, withdrawing high-school students to the adult education department within the Alabama Community College System so adult education programs can contact them. It also codifies the state’s nontraditional high-school diploma option as an alternative pathway for individuals age 18 (currently the program requires age 19) who have withdrawn from high school.

Sponsor Representative Woods told the committee the adult-education system already offers GED preparation, skills-based training and a nontraditional diploma option but that many students do not know those options exist. He said the reporting requirement is intended to “help our adult education departments in the state know these students exist.”

David, an adult education representative with the community college system, told the committee the programs are evidence- and research-based, can incorporate portions of the GED assessment and ACT WorkKeys, and can award college credits for integrated education and skills training. He said credits earned through GED work can transfer and that students with at least 10 high-school credits can be moved into the high-school diploma option and eventually issued a diploma by the local high school after transcript review.

Senator Smitherman pressed the sponsor on parity between the nontraditional diploma and the traditional 4-by-4 curriculum, saying he was concerned the bill might create an “easy pathway” that shortchanges the traditional curriculum’s rigor. Representative Woods and the adult-education representative responded that the nontraditional pathway aligns to college-level and industry-aligned training, and that the bill was amended on the House floor to ensure students pursuing the nontraditional diploma are not counted as dropouts on state report cards while they are trying to complete a diploma.

After debate, Representative Kitchens moved and Representative Price seconded a motion to give HB 266 a favorable report. The committee recorded the bill as given a favorable report, 9-0.

Votes at a glance: HB 266 — favorable report (motion to give favorable report moved by Representative Kitchens; seconded by Representative Price). Recorded roll-call ayes: Senator Butler; Senator Chastain; Senator Hatcher; Senator Hovey; Senator Kitchens; Senator Price; Senator Shellnut; Senator Smitherman; Senator Stutz. Tally: 9 yes, 0 no. The committee’s chair announced, “Bill’s given a favorable report.”","A bill to require state reporting of students who withdraw from high school and to codify a nontraditional diploma pathway for 18-year-olds received a favorable committee report after discussion of curriculum, credit transfer and dropout-prevention concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee holds public hearing on bill to require display of the 10 Commandments in public schools

Committee advances bill allowing parents to provide vaccine religious exemptions directly to schools

Representative Woods’ bill would expand outreach to high-school dropouts, lower diploma age to 18