[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6595692,"mediaKeyId","3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5","parentId",3026703,"title","House Education Policy panel adopts substitute for bill allowing out-of-class religious study with parental consent","audioSeconds",517,"startMs",649000,"endMs",1166000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5&start=649&end=1166","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5/thumbnail_649000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6595692/Alabama/House-Education-Policy-panel-adopts-substitute-for-bill-allowing-out-of-class-religious-study-with-parental-consent","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595692-4d997e924561553d941b1c6b58f02bab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582369&Signature=kkDERqwoTfL41aoJo84U9hTOsAiTiC~lLShTT~4F~KTxzWZNhoWYVsks4PKhGtWK8OegPmrRCS6kf0gNuaVIRLGnC53awicxLtdVwuRk1QWG7FHPLu5BAecy2vCNDGGhR9Gc7kGtxwG~ZvM6xy2HIP2f5~WKDCfcnZy452sXWCHD5whdgJCiV-Lx36uVs6nJ7xKpMQrsZl0fCTLkNBHSOaHVDUJJIc4BFbntPKzsX4Z138IlxlwXLnKL4CXKX4QSGYR5bDyyl7C-mPwwKJq~wfP2iWGvDukZwhvKMuYL2F0Ae3JUsrPx79UTb6sZx-y5cikIXOJ9jqN5lOKmGYzU-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House Sessions","date","2025-04-16T19:57:04.353Z","article","The House Education Policy Committee on an unspecified date adopted a substitute to House Bill 231 that would permit religious study outside regular class time if approved by the local school board and with parental consent.

Representative Ingram, who presented the measure, said the substitute removes a specific reference to Christianity so that the provision would apply to any religion and that the activity “has to go before the school or after school time” rather than occurring in the classroom. Ingram also said the activity would need approval by the school board “within 90 days after it goes into law” and that participants must have parent consent.

Committee members pressed for clarification on the substitute’s interaction with existing state law about required school practices and potential funding consequences. Representative Drummond asked about the effect of an intentional refusal and whether penalties would apply to individual staff or to entire schools. Ingram said the existing law on the pledge is enforced by the state board or superintendent and described a clawback mechanism, saying in the discussion that it would be a “5% of the clawback” of state funding and that a funding reduction could occur “after the second year” if a school blatantly disregards the law. Other members expressed concern that withholding funds would effectively penalize students at a whole-school level.

The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote after a motion from Representative Pascal and a second from Representative Woods. The committee then gave the bill a favorable report as substituted on a motion by Representative DuBose and a second by Representative Pascal.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House Education Policy Committee","oneSentenceSummary","The House Education Policy Committee adopted a substitute to HB 231 that would allow religious study outside regular class time only if a local school board approves it and participating students have parental consent.","taxTitle","Education Policy, House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",15594,"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},6595673,"Committee approves changes to University of South Alabama board selection, notice and meeting timing",182,2264000,2446000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5&start=2264&end=2446","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5/thumbnail_2264000.jpg","/articles/6595673/Alabama/Committee-approves-changes-to-University-of-South-Alabama-board-selection-notice-and-meeting-timing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595673-55ed2595b16ec1d7ba0ac7aef0314e10/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582369&Signature=QlvTmvRGtc~pMmnN73BLBXEoOJim74lGWZ9oj28eGQ58630XWLWyWrzB5nfBdCbRA5OZ~lpCSoJjwG1eWcTTw~Ulcsoo33bbUvOR6eDGpjAPW8PTd4I~wwXuS8voJQRyfoRfUVbbUK5LT-fL2RqzAbhIu7bu-BSJENSMCFaYGpWbfyrSF~~7JSpkmxDTEmVDxQDOR-jbBrzrJhaFztq-Kg-m-Eb2o2YZmwK-AeVsYTqPX0qHChoBeaw7ujOz6j5QSUCeAwh0TcgrguUKOAv~P-NTw2ITisifSctIyrFU2kX9MTkGSeKM3g-AN94JZ5MX3CHnlT2jQ6jNUuANjePqYA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 259, carried by Representative Drummond for Senator Figures, would amend code provisions governing the University of South Alabama Board of Trustees and meeting rules.

Representative Drummond told the committee the bill converts four seats that currently represent 1963 State Senate districts into at-large positions: one U.S. at-large seat (for a total of three U.S. at-large seats) and three state at-large seats (for a total of nine). He said the legislation ensures currently seated trustees will continue to serve the remainder of their terms.

The bill would also reduce the written-notice requirement for special board meetings from the current 10 days to 24 hours to align that section with the open-meetings statute, and it would require annual meetings to be held in June. Drummond said the board and University President Bonner discussed the changes at their March 11 retreat.

Representative Paramore moved to give the bill a favorable report; Representative Morris seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.","The House Education Policy Committee gave a favorable report to SB 259, which revises trustee selection and meeting rules for the University of South Alabama.",{"_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},6595677,"Committee approves amendments and gives favorable report to bill allowing some 11th–12th graders to begin college coursework",769,1481000,2250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5&start=1481&end=2250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5/thumbnail_1481000.jpg","/articles/6595677/Alabama/Committee-approves-amendments-and-gives-favorable-report-to-bill-allowing-some-11th12th-graders-to-begin-college-coursework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595677-5d92fdfa8a6e9f268faccb7d63ad5c4f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582369&Signature=ou~ebZHxvImFV55InNYmuSz9v-IgCIPx-zhWsB3SCX3g4nlZCurZvRGPhFqsM2Bh5u8kxiXAR5AdmBPkEM65G12oeCXi9A7eyWMCDwkLD9BmDLeOJK48a7OTQjPNzyDtuaqKJZBnvZuNVrVvEc3uT1amir4h5a6NQJIqXhmpX4l7sF680vdF01aZ2NuQZalfVTr1~fC~09aU90G5qDgLiwDh9kVYSBzlClNZRjsWKcKx~PT5FKNnHJm3A0zPBicHME0f5G9eLNtNxbYdqYPlxPW-mJM0AUq-PAZHlvMS1mUz-EwhCLIJYz8lCKl0EuldpK7t9iI~p49d0rJlEIkVKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 196, carried in committee by Senator Orr, would allow a narrowly defined group of 11th- or 12th-grade students who are ready for college work to enroll in higher education without first receiving a high-school diploma and have those credits reported back to the high school.

Orr said the program is aimed at a small subset of students — not traditional dual enrollees — who want to begin college coursework early and later report credits back to graduate from high school if they meet requirements. He described two friendly amendments: one from the superintendents’ association to clarify that students who move on cannot participate in high-school extracurricular activities, and a second, longer amendment drafted with input from other stakeholders to strengthen the bill’s implementation.

Committee members asked several questions about extracurricular eligibility, subject-matter alignment of college credits with high-school course requirements, and how funding would follow students. Senator Orr said Georgia had used a model where K–12 funding followed the child to college but noted Alabama would need to address funding in rulemaking or a special appropriation; he said conversations were planned with college presidents about expanding dual-enrollment funding. Representative Drummond expressed support for the bill as a means of helping students who are falling through the educational net; others, including Representative Woods and Representative Duvos, voiced support as well.

The committee adopted both amendments by voice vote. Representative Drummond moved to give SB 196 a favorable report as amended; Representative Woods seconded the motion. The committee gave the bill a favorable report as amended by voice vote. Senator Orr said the bill’s effective date is set for July 1, 2026 to allow time for rulemaking and funding arrangements.","Senate Bill 196, which would allow a small subset of 11th- or 12th-grade students to enroll in college courses and have credits reported back to high school, received two amendments and was given a favorable report as amended; members discussed funding, extracurricular limits and an effective date of July 1, 2026.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6595682,"Committee gives favorable report to companion bill to Focus Act requiring school boards to adopt student cellphone policies",126,1345000,1471000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5&start=1345&end=1471","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5/thumbnail_1345000.jpg","/articles/6595682/Alabama/Committee-gives-favorable-report-to-companion-bill-to-Focus-Act-requiring-school-boards-to-adopt-student-cellphone-policies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595682-ae4aebf30c3454ef57a93f9e874a4d99/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582369&Signature=E6~CErNozb4roG0uV9wYoULalX2ZGgVPMF40ky6lF1mz0tzAkDt9r6OZUMCZon3-42edSXrhsMTqNEOZ39KSRqJ6d13fIm37TPwURmrfPI2NzAU9NVEYV0jJgmT-wt0ptUD4~XxDai02O6gerQSt22LX6C0PsVXVS03z-UG8Fyqzc3~j3vCaS1d5U3LFcLqncE5ywZX72jibmaUWpyb6wfTyp8-oEzuJlWlA0i3jmJc5nkB2wGnJm9kSltzIQSjU73GNdWjx9GfaC4GaTIab4U3SbM0Yzgg7JFYEUKVjL6jeHfkPxxpPItYdSanMQ30vTYDZDE87Fq9eZwc0U4fBAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee heard Senate Bill 92, described by the sponsor as a companion to the Focus Act (HB 166), and gave the bill a favorable report.

Representative Hulsey said the companion is identical to the House version passed earlier and requires local boards of education to adopt policies that set when and how students must store or power off cellphones. He said the bill removes statewide punitive provisions and leaves enforcement and consequences to local boards, while preserving three exceptions included in the enacted House measure.

Representative Pascal moved to give the bill a favorable report; Representative Paramore seconded the motion. The committee approved the motion by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally.","A companion to the Focus Act (HB 166) that limits student cellphone use and requires local boards to adopt policies was given a favorable report by the committee; sponsors said they removed punitive statewide penalties and retained three exceptions.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6595687,"Committee adopts substitute to HB 246 tightening limits on use of names or pronouns inconsistent with legal name without parental permission",164,1172000,1336000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5&start=1172&end=1336","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3026703-030f92f320e50decbca165fcb736e1f5/thumbnail_1172000.jpg","/articles/6595687/Alabama/Committee-adopts-substitute-to-HB-246-tightening-limits-on-use-of-names-or-pronouns-inconsistent-with-legal-name-without-parental-permission","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6595687-51ff41ce58ca31305d0846b374130381/orig.mp4?Expires=1770582369&Signature=QF24w1MVQZewhdmM11wzH~BfHGBL0x4~jKZMc5wzNYpGnigHiSiwMlS9AL7U0jVx8ZsdwnOJASHQ9Di4aftjnZxKpkttBXHaLYN627O5efn2hjwvuzZf8fzCNt4rl5aT3wUhuWaIGj-qNljZkhpzagz89VONjRAKGfUEwl6~yIi49TBgOx9PJ67X1pNWV2fc7vxdBGCTf~QELTdP3GraY1KqYTaPybz5G4evRVvgEi-zVUvgzlAwKvuhvAPgvpBBwIwspuyiOdGqFRvHEtCB~1mHLypJDOHzCr1B3m3ByjvGPLJ-pAhytU0yuaDRvBpfmxkU0BDdn4NsBFHQp9QjZg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Education Policy Committee adopted a substitute to HB 246 that revises language governing when schools may use a name, pronoun or title other than a student’s legal name.

Leader Studhagen and staff explained technical corrections in the substitute: insert the qualifier “patently” before “inconsistent” in several lines and omit paragraphs spanning lines 78 through 85. The change narrows the circumstances in which a school could use a name or pronoun inconsistent with the student’s legal name “without the written permission of a student's parent or guardian.”

The committee adopted the substitute by voice vote, then moved and seconded motions to give the bill a favorable report as substituted; the committee voted in favor by voice vote. The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or additional policy debate in committee.","Members adopted a substitute to HB 246 that inserts the qualifier “patently inconsistent” in provisions limiting school use of names or pronouns different from a student’s legal name, and the committee gave the bill a favorable report as substituted.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House Education Policy panel adopts substitute for bill allowing out-of-class religious study with parental consent

Committee approves changes to University of South Alabama board selection, notice and meeting timing

Committee approves amendments and gives favorable report to bill allowing some 11th–12th graders to begin college coursework

Committee gives favorable report to companion bill to Focus Act requiring school boards to adopt student cellphone policies

Committee adopts substitute to HB 246 tightening limits on use of names or pronouns inconsistent with legal name without parental permission