[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6613782,"mediaKeyId","2867548-e6ef70da88686d43ca732dd5cfd8f144","parentId",2867548,"title","House approves bill restricting student use of cell phones during instructional day after extended debate","audioSeconds",5386,"startMs",7466000,"endMs",12852000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2867548-e6ef70da88686d43ca732dd5cfd8f144&start=7466&end=12852","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2867548-e6ef70da88686d43ca732dd5cfd8f144/thumbnail_7466000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6613782/Alabama/House-approves-bill-restricting-student-use-of-cell-phones-during-instructional-day-after-extended-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613782-c09a288ee0dfb6faa0318dee271bd1dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442626&Signature=oVvi3GjVaW2-inAyGdb~0aRIGJGeVHC4tK74Xf8Oz6R1Dqqd2qOf8hXeKZqcc0CLFP0Jzuv~sthxYVITAd2w9PcU~ULvbsuT91M3JiRDS4RY8M8B50f5AFGPfdZPS~hElUukRce31DI4NbuGbBKbYSOCDK3THABNeK29E4dvdf5UORhQ4WtULXI88xXAs2OmmZEEsNWR4B0E2V0qPc0DJgQwSYpJbEwhPSWml88W7u9Ye1ecGIlx3NrvTVEa9gPvvi-IeA-aEk6~lQ7tO5P9GS9R2BP0cJQOtmTj6aeARcjOlCxCNSwmNMuoEbhUOtSry2ItVSOulCQvVayw7wDa-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House Sessions","date","2025-04-03T19:59:00.65Z","article","The Alabama House of Representatives on the floor approved House Bill 166, a bill that limits student possession and use of wireless communication devices during the instructional day and requires devices to be turned off and stored off the person.

Sponsor Representative Halsey told the chamber the bill establishes a statewide floor for policy: devices may remain on school property but must be turned off and stored in a locker, vehicle or similar storage while class is in session, and local boards of education will determine the precise procedures for storage and handling.

The bill includes three explicit exemptions: devices may be used when required by a student's individualized education program (IEP) or Section 504 plan; when a teacher directs a device be used for instructional purposes; and in emergency situations. Representative Halsey also explained a substitute adopted on the floor removes punitive damages language that had been in an earlier version and adds a compliance survey that the state will use to monitor uniform implementation.

Debate and objections on the floor

Supporters argued the measure frees classrooms from a major distraction and can improve instruction, discipline and students' mental-health indicators. Representative Collins said the change can have an effect similar to education reforms that improved learning outcomes: \"rarely do we get an opportunity to make a vote that will benefit children more and the mental health of our children more than this one will do,\" she said on the floor.

Opponents and several members raised safety and practical concerns. Representative Drummond asked how the bill would preserve a student's ability to contact a parent in an emergency; Halsey replied the exemptions permit use in emergencies and that local boards could choose storage options inside the building (lockers, pouches, classroom storage) rather than off-site in a car. Representative Bracey described a personal example of his 13-year-old daughter sending a timely text about a personal emergency that allowed a parent response within minutes; he said restricting access would have made that intervention harder.

Other members urged clearer implementation and stronger enforcement. Representative Warren, who has carried similar measures before, said the schools and the state board should include enforcement mechanisms so policies are applied uniformly. Several speakers — including representatives who said local pilot programs had shown gains in attention, discipline and test performance — urged the House to allow the substitute to pass and then to track compliance and outcomes.

Votes and next steps

Members adopted a substitute that removed punitive damages language and added a compliance survey. The House ultimately recorded final passage of HB 166 (substitute and floor amendments considered) with a recorded final vote of 70 ayes and 15 nays; the bill will move to the Senate for consideration.

Speakers quoted in this article are identified below and attributed to their remarks on the House floor.

Ending note

Supporters described HB 166 as a classroom-management and student-mental-health measure. Opponents warned the change could restrict parents' and students' ability to communicate during emergencies and stressed the need for clear local procedures and resources to implement storage and compliance.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House","oneSentenceSummary","The Alabama House approved HB 166, requiring students to turn off and store wireless devices off their person during the instructional day, while allowing local boards to set specific procedures and providing three narrow exemptions.","taxTitle","House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",62182,"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},6613787,"House adopts general fund and related spending bills, funds mental health, ports and public safety",4107,3711000,7818000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2867548-e6ef70da88686d43ca732dd5cfd8f144&start=3711&end=7818","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2867548-e6ef70da88686d43ca732dd5cfd8f144/thumbnail_3711000.jpg","/articles/6613787/Alabama/House-adopts-general-fund-and-related-spending-bills-funds-mental-health-ports-and-public-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6613787-2deade49b308e26f7166c8a78e311261/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442626&Signature=UK1zPwCRdxKkieZCvUiLEoeJye0cZirPhEFKW9wCAudYvwrYUdRrlUE3ccMfrHGQ0Bt2LgHmzKWl1mzKbY-LqSEs7C4H5w88BvFfL-o-14v8uuk-M-bxLmkrCYHHAJ6OGA1WfMV35WMX7Wjy99ggwLbmFUwizvd8qe51KXCf-0N0wpfYl0AO4pI24KEz8R8kdT2t1pzFmr15vyCU3IJrHUQe1MJw1RE95TPdI9tTLtDSh6LpH6I-WYnjvaiTsuwoLNNNipF7a5cUToo93PnjMAL6h1h6F-iMzZbflD3Y7bhBwx9b2jPILvQiM7LdHtD2YScmf1Zih4u1IuMLrZI~-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama House of Representatives on the floor adopted the state's general fund budget substitute and a package of related spending measures, approving changes to the governor's recommendation and a separate opioid settlement spending bill intended for treatment, prevention and recovery services.

The budget substitute for House Bill 186, presented by Representative Reynolds, chairman of the House general fund committee, adjusted the governor's recommended 2026 general fund and reallocated limited additional revenue to increase some priorities while moving certain one-time items to conditional status.

The substitute and ensuing votes matter because they set the state's spending plan for core agencies and programs, alter how one-time and recurring funds will be distributed, and place conditional funds in reserve for projects such as State House construction. Key changes in the adopted substitute include modest increases for airport development and port support, targeted boosts for community providers, and reductions in near-term overages for large health accounts.

Representative Reynolds, chairman of the general fund committee, told members the governor's recommended general fund for 2026 was $3,360,823,479 and that the substitute used a small share of additional available revenue to adjust specific line items. He described those adjustments during floor debate and then moved for adoption of the substitute.

Major budget adjustments and details cited on the floor

- Port of Mobile: increased by $1,000,000 (bringing a larger multi-year appropriation total cited on the floor).
- Airport development grants: increased by $7,500,000 to $15,000,000 overall, a leadership priority.
- Logging efficiency grants: increased by $1,000,000.
- Capitol Police: increased by $2,500,000 to expand staffing and security tied to the Capitol complex and a planned move to an adjacent facility.
- Medicaid and Mental Health: the committee reduced the departments' overage line items by $5,000,000 each to spread certain costs over later budgets rather than absorbing them entirely in one year.
- Community provider IDD funding: increased by $2,500,000 to support provider pay actions approved previously by the Legislature.
- National Guard armory maintenance: increased by $1,000,000.
- Conditional/back-of-the-budget items: $37,500,000 for State House construction placed as conditional and $3,000,000 moved for the state's SEEDS economic development account.

Several members used floor time to press staff and the chairman on how one-time requests and small line items were handled. Representative Moore (Jefferson County) raised concerns after members in her delegation discovered a software-driven omission of certain one-time line items — including local cultural institutions she represents — and Representative Reynolds said the missing items had been reinserted when members requested them. Representative Moore said she would follow up as the bill goes back to the Senate.

Other bills tied to the budget and action on the floor

- HB 185, supplemental appropriations: adopted as amended; described on the floor as spending authority that permits transfers between existing accounts rather than new appropriations. (Recorded vote: 98 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention on the substitute; final passage recorded as adopted.)
- HB 460, opioid settlement spending: the House approved appropriation of judicially and legislatively directed opioid settlement funds, including allocations to public health, mental health, veterans services, forensic testing capacity and local prosecution and sheriff training. Representative Reynolds said the primary recipient is public health for education, prevention, treatment and recovery; the House adopted the bill. (Recorded vote: 102 ayes, 0 nays.)
- HB 184, Coalition Against Domestic Violence: appropriation of $1,702,000 from the general fund for the coalition for the year ending Sept. 30, 2026, with required operational plan and audited financial statements before disbursement. (Recorded vote: 102 ayes, 0 nays.)
- HB 183, Children First Trust Fund allocations: appropriated approximately $36.6 million from the Children's Trust Fund and $44.2 million from the additional tobacco settlement fund to multiple child and senior programs and agencies. (Recorded vote: 102 ayes, 0 nays.)
- HB 181, Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority: amended to provide $50,000,000 of bond authority; debt to be serviced through rent payments rather than direct appropriation. (Recorded vote: 102 ayes, 0 nays.)
- HB 312 (substitute), hospital provider privilege tax: renewed the existing provider privilege assessment that helps generate federal matching dollars for Medicaid and that in 2025 produced approximately $329 million. The bill extends the framework through 2028. (Recorded votes on substitute and final passage recorded in committee report; substitute adopted.)
- HB 405, nursing facility supplemental privilege tax: extended the supplemental nursing-home bed assessment through Aug. 30, 2028. (Recorded vote: 101 ayes, 0 nays.)
- HB 182 (substitute), emergency medical transport provider assessment: extended assessment through July 1, 2028; substitute conformed language to federal Medicaid coding requirements. (Recorded vote: 101 ayes, 0 nays.)

How the House voted on the general fund

Representative Reynolds moved for final passage of the substituted general fund bill (HB 186). The House recorded 95 ayes and 3 nays on final passage; the chair announced HB 186 has passed.

Why members spoke on the floor

Lawmakers pressed the chairman for clarity on how one-time appropriations were handled and for assurances the reinserted projects would survive Senate review. Several members urged better communication and earlier distribution of detailed budget comparisons to committee members so they can answer constituent questions once the budget is enacted. Representative McCampbell and others said they voted as a check to force improvements in transparency and committee participation.

What's next

The budget bills approved by the House will go to the Senate for consideration and possible conference. Members on the floor urged continuing follow-up to ensure local projects removed by software in the executive submission are honored when the bill returns to the upper chamber.

Votes at a glance (items recorded and voted on during this floor session)

- HB 186 (General Fund budget, substitute adopted and final passage): approved (final recorded vote: 95 ayes, 3 nays).
- HB 185 (Supplemental appropriations): approved (substitute/BR adopted 98–0–1; final passage recorded as adopted).
- HB 460 (Opioid settlement appropriations): approved (102–0).
- HB 184 (Coalition Against Domestic Violence appropriation): approved (102–0).
- HB 183 (Children First Trust Fund and related tobacco settlement distributions): approved (102–0).
- HB 181 (Alabama Building Renovation Finance Authority bond authority): approved (102–0).
- HB 312 (Hospital provider privilege tax substitute): substitute adopted and bill advanced (recorded votes on substitute and final passage recorded on the calendar).
- HB 405 (Nursing facility bed assessment extension): approved (101–0).
- HB 182 (Emergency medical transport provider assessment, substitute): approved (101–0).

Speakers quoted in this article spoke during the budget debate and are identified below. Quotes are presented verbatim from the House floor transcript.

Ending note

Members concluded a day of budget debate and votes that leadership described as conservative and targeted; members who raised concerns asked for continued follow-up as bills move through the legislative process.","The Alabama House on the floor approved the governor's recommended general fund and a package of supplemental and program-specific appropriations, adopting a substitute for the general fund (HB186) and passing related supplemental and program bills. Lawmakers debated line items and procedural concerns before final votes.","actionData","errors"]

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House approves bill restricting student use of cell phones during instructional day after extended debate

House adopts general fund and related spending bills, funds mental health, ports and public safety