House approves $524 million in supplemental spending and $9.9 billion Education Trust Fund budget

The Alabama House of Representatives on April 22 approved a supplemental appropriations package totaling about $524.3 million and passed the Fiscal Year 2026 Education Trust Fund budget, which House leaders said increases the ETF by roughly $561 million to $9.9 billion.

Lawmakers said the supplemental spending (Senate Bill 113 as considered by the House) directs $28 million to local school boards, more than $136 million to other K–12 needs, and a range of higher-education and agency appropriations. The bill also earmarks tens of millions for universities, community colleges, workforce and technology projects, and small grants for arts, historical and rehabilitation programs. Committee chairman Jeremy Garrett described a handout with line-item spreadsheets available to members.

The House Ways and Means chairman, Representative Jeremy Garrett, told members the supplemental includes a $37.5 million allocation for the legislative council’s new state house project; multi‑million dollar appropriations to the University of Alabama, Auburn University, and other public universities; and modest awards to arts organizations and museums. Garrett moved the bill to the House for consideration and members voted to adopt the budget-related measures.

Garrett also led consideration of SB 112, the Education Trust Fund budget. He told the chamber the ETF will increase by roughly $561 million (about 6%) year over year. Major highlights in the budget summary Garrett presented include a $213 million funding level for the First Class Pre-K program (an increase of about $12.4 million) that the bill’s authors say would serve about 46% of eligible 4‑year‑olds statewide; approximately $250 million more for K–12 (with the bulk directed to the foundation program); and a higher‑education increase of roughly $146 million, including $35 million for community colleges and the remainder for four‑year institutions. Garrett said the budget boosts career‑tech operations and maintenance and funds reading coaches, technology coordinators, mental‑health coordinators and nurses for school systems.

Members also approved SB 114 (substitute), the Advancement and Technology supplemental appropriation measure. Garrett said the bill would allocate $1.25 billion for technology and school facilities based on a bond formula, carving out $100 million for new regional career‑tech centers and offering local matches up to $20 million with a sliding local match based on local capacity.

Representative Hall and other lawmakers asked questions about how nonprofit applicants and dual‑enrollment scholarships would be evaluated under the supplemental appropriations. Garrett and other committee members said awards are evaluated through the governor’s submission, committee review and legislative priorities, and that regional and geographic distribution is considered for education funding. On one floor amendment, House members added language clarifying that a $1.1 million appropriation for a Create Technology Innovation Center would explicitly include providing dual‑enrollment scholarships through Gadsden State Community College.

House members voted in favor of the supplemental and budget measures. The supplemental appropriation bill and the ETF budget passed as adopted on the floor.