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Senate committee hears testimony on bill to require school districts to adopt release‑time religious instruction policies; no vote
Summary
SB 278, which would require districts to adopt a policy allowing student release for off‑site religious instruction with parental consent and without use of school funds, drew both proponents (including Lifewise advocates) and opponents who warned of lost local control; the committee held the bill for further review.
Senator Shellnut's SB 278 — which would require local school districts to create a policy allowing students to attend off‑site religious instruction during the school day with parental consent, provided faith‑based providers assume liability and transportation and no school funds are used — received a public hearing but no committee vote.
Proponents described existing programs and parental demand. Sunny Cotton, Alabama state director for Lifewise Academy, said Lifewise operates in nearly 600 schools nationwide and that Lifewise and local leaders had been denied policies in multiple Alabama districts; she reported nearly 4,500 statewide petition signatures asking districts to allow the program. Jennifer Riggs and Marty Griffin, representing parents and faith communities, described being rebuffed by local superintendents and school boards and said a statewide policy would remove fear of legal risk for local leaders.
Opponents and questions from committee members focused on local control, instructional time and the bill's mandatory language. Ben Baker, a longtime locally elected superintendent and public‑school leader, argued the bill ‘‘robs local school boards of local control’’ and noted the measure does not define "religious instruction." He said the lack of definition raises practical concerns and could allow non‑Christian or inappropriate religious practices. Ryan Hollingsworth, executive director of School Superintendents of Alabama, opposed the bill on the ground that districts have a limited number of instructional hours and are already charged with numerous statutory requirements; he said parents who prioritize religious instruction typically arrange private schooling, homeschooling or other options outside the state school day.
Senator Smitherman singled out the change of one word from "may" to "shall," saying that would impose a requirement on local boards rather than preserve local option and argued the proposal intrudes on home rule and separation questions. Senator Shellnut said the bill is optional for students, requires parental consent, uses no school funds and leaves local boards discretion (for example, on whether to award elective credit).
Committee action and next steps: The committee did not vote on SB 278. The chair said members had many questions and asked members to work with the sponsor; the bill will return to committee for a future vote after members receive additional information.
