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House repeals obsolete UA physician advisory board law and removes mandated School of Social Work structure amid heated debate
Summary
The House unanimously repealed an obsolete UA physician advisory‑board statute (HB151) and later passed HB152, which removes a 1965 statutory mandate requiring the University of Alabama to maintain a stand‑alone School of Social Work after extended floor debate about accreditation and workforce impacts.
The Alabama House approved two related bills affecting the University of Alabama.
House Bill 151, sponsored by Representative Garrett, repeals a statutory requirement that the University of Alabama School of Medicine maintain a physician advisory board that has not met for decades. Garrett described the board as an "archaic" requirement and said the statute has had no practical enforcement; the House adopted and passed that technical repeal unanimously.
House Bill 152, also sponsored by Representative Garrett, removes a 1965 statutory mandate that the University of Alabama maintain a stand‑alone School of Social Work. Garrett said the repeal grants the university greater autonomy and flexibility to restructure programs to meet workforce needs. He provided enrollment figures during debate, saying the school had 647 students and about 108 faculty and staff, and that the university favors the change to address workforce shortages.
Multiple members pressed for specifics. Representative Lance warned the change "could actually result in a dismantling of the department" and raised accreditation risks and concerns about weakening recruitment and fundraising for social work. Other members asked for data on program outcomes and voiced unease about removing a legislative mandate that dates to the 1960s; Representative Travis and others emphasized the long‑standing workforce need for social workers and cautioned against unintended consequences.
Supporters argued the repeal does not automatically dismantle the program but returns the structural choice to university leadership; the sponsor said the change would take effect October 1, 2026 for administrative planning. On final passage the clerk recorded 76 yays and 14 nays for HB152.
The House also passed SB89, a separate housekeeping bill related to pilotage code cleanup.
