Strong Families

STRONG FAMILIES

BLUEPRINT 2026

BLUEPRINT

BUILDING A STRONGER ALABAMA

2026

1 Full Funding for Alabama’s Universal School Choice Program

Table of Contents

Reform the Governance of the Alabama High School Athletics Association Free Markets

2. Decrease Barriers to Affordable Healthcare Through Certificate of Need Reform

3. Reduce Restrictions on Home-Based Businesses and Youth Entrepreneurship

4 Reform Alabama’s Burdensome Occupational Licensing Infrastructure

5 Strengthen Competitive Bidding and Public Works Laws

6. Increase Requirements to Receive Public Welfare

7. Expand Portable Benefits for Alabama’s Changing Workforce

8. Provide Tax Relief to All Alabamians 9. Reduce Future State Budget Growth 10 Protect Healthcare Freedom for All Alabamians

Improve Regulatory Oversight and Increase Government Transparency 12. Require State and Local Government Entities to Livestream Meetings 13 Resist any Expansion of Gambling and Increase Penalties for Illegal Gambling Activity 14. Provide Alabamians Access to Innovative Healthcare Treatment Options 15. Allow for Alternative Accreditation Options at Alabama’s Colleges and Universities

Remove Logistical Barriers to Opening New Micro-schools

Government Strong Families 19. Restrict the Flow of Abortion Inducing Drugs into Alabama

Strengthen Alabamians Fourth Amendment Privacy Protections

Strengthen Internet Protections for Alabama’s Children 21. Allow Volunteer Chaplains in Alabama’s K-12 Public Schools

22. Promote and Improve Civics Education in K-12 Public Schools 23. Hold Sexual Predators Accountable and Increase Penalties for Crimes Against Minors 24 Prevent Medically Assisted Suicide from Occurring in Alabama 25. Ban Non-Medical Psychoactive THC Products from Being Sold in Alabama 26. Promote the Lessons of the Ten Commandments in Alabama’s K-12 Public Schools 27. Provide a Consistent Statewide Framework for K-12 Religious Release Time

Allow for Alternative Testing and Amend “Advanced Placement” Language 29. Increase Transparency in the Review of Copy-written Educational Materials

30. Protect Female Spaces for Girls and Women in Prisons and Other Settings

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Restrict the Flow of Abortion Inducing Drugs into Alabama

Overview

In 2019, the Alabama Legislature passed the Human Life Protection Act, which bans postfertilization abortions in the state under most circumstances. Prior to the law’s enactment abortions were legal in Alabama up to the 20th week of pregnancy. The Human Life Protection Act was initially enjoined by U.S. District Court Judge Myron Thompson; however, on June 24, 2022, the injunction was lifted after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization[i].

The only exception to the Human Life Protection Act is if carrying out a pregnancy would pose a “serious health risk” to the mother, which must be further confirmed within 180 days of the abortion[ii]. A violation of the law constitutes a Class A felony, which requires imprisonment for 10 to 99 years and a fine of up to $60,000, while attempting to carry on an abortion is a class C felony. A licensed physician who terminates a pregnancy in the course of a medical emergency is not liable for criminal penalties under Alabama law[iii].

The law further states that no woman who has or attempts to have an abortion performed upon her can be held criminally or civilly liable under the provisions of the Human Life protection Act.

While the performance of abortions is banned under Alabama law, other southeastern states such as Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina allow abortions to some extent with varying restrictions. There are few restrictions in about half of the states in the United States. Alabama residents are not prohibited from traveling outside of the state to obtain an abortion.

Where ambiguity arises is with the issue of abortion inducing drugs, typically mifepristone and misoprostol. While these drugs have other medical purposes beyond inducing abortion, that is their primary use. In a memorandum dated December 23, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice gave approval to the U.S. postal service to ship abortion inducing drugs into states where abortion has been banned, so long as the sender lacks the intent that the recipient of the drugs will use them in an unlawful manner[iv].

A 2023 survey found that by the end of that year, about 8,000 women per month were receiving abortion pills by mail in states that restrict abortion or limit the ability to have an abortion through a telehealth provider[v]. Another report in 2024 found that around 10,000 abortions per month are performed using mifepristone or misoprostol which had been prescribed through out-of-state telehealth appointments provided under shield laws to patients in states with strong anti-abortion laws[vi].

Current Alabama Law

Under current Alabama law, a resident of another U.S. state who mails an abortion inducing drug to Alabama could face prosecution in an Alabama court under the Human Life Protection Act, however, the burden would be on the state to first intercept the drug shipment and further to prove that the intent of shipping the drug into Alabama was to facilitate an abortion Attorney General Steve Marshall has said that he “will vigorously enforce Alabama law to protect unborn life[vii].”

Where Attorney General Steve Marshall lacks jurisdiction is if abortion pills are mailed to an Alabama resident from a foreign country. India is the world’s largest manufacturer of abortion drugs.

Since the Dobbs v. Jackson decision, the flow of abortion inducing drugs from foreign countries into the U.S. has increased substantially, primarily into states with the most restrictive abortion laws, i.e. the Southeast. In the first six months following the Dobbs decision, it is estimated that 50,000 abortion pills were provided to Americans from sources outside of the U.S. Up to 100,000 more were expected to enter the country by the end of 2023[viii].

There are several problems associated with shipping abortion inducing drugs into Alabama from another country. First and foremost, abortion is illegal in Alabama.

Beyond the legality of the practice, there are additional health concerns for the woman who may end up taking the medication. In most cases, no prescription or medical consultation is required to purchase foreign manufactured abortion pills. In states where abortion is legal, the medication would be prescribed and taken under the supervision of a licensed physician. Sometimes, additional follow-up medical procedures are needed to complete the abortion process.

In short, taking these unprescribed pills without medical supervision could lead to serious health consequences for those taking them.

What Reforms Should be Considered in Alabama?

During the 2026 legislative session Alabama lawmakers should take steps to further protect the lives of the unborn by blocking the flow of domestic and foreign abortion inducing drugs into the state. Steps include:

Provide that no internet, cell phone, and content delivery network service providers operating in Alabama shall accept or forward an HTTP request to an IP address that permits a resident to obtain abortion inducing drugs for delivery to the state.

Prohibit health care providers offering abortion producing drugs from using any information technology capabilities that permits a resident to obtain abortion inducing drugs for delivery to Alabama.

Prohibit software-as-a-service providers to allow their products or services to be used to offer the sale and delivery of abortion inducing drugs to Alabama.

Prohibit platform-as-a-service and infrastructure-as-a-service providers from using their technological capabilities to permits a resident to obtain abortion inducing drugs for delivery to Alabama.

Prohibit data centers from hosting any information technology capabilities to be used by a person to offer the sale and delivery of abortion producing drugs to Alabama.

Prohibit payment providers from facilitating the payment for any abortion producing drug to be delivered to an Alabama resident.

Require internet and cell phone service provider to prohibit and remove Domain Name Service (DNS) servers used to accept requests from domain names that sell abortion inducing drugs, specifically Aidaccess.org, Heyjane.co, Plancpills.org, Mychoix.com, Justthepill.com, and Carafem.org.

Require the Alabama Attorney General to monitor and keep an up to date list of internet domain names and IP addresses that provide the delivery of abortion producing drugs to Alabama residents.

Provide the Alabama Attorney General with the authority to bring civil and criminal litigation against any technology provider, individual, etc , who provides prohibited products and services Some experts believed that the election of President Donald Trump in 2024 presidential election might lead to the legality of mailing abortion inducing drugs into states where abortion is generally barred to be revisited . [ix]

However, that had not happened as of late 2025. In October 2025, the Federal Drug Administration did announce that it would conduct a safety and efficacy review of mifepristone, which could potentially lead to new restrictions on the medication[x]. Before announcing this review though, the FDA approved the use of a generic form of mifepristone in early October[xi]

Another issue is an October 2025 lawsuit that was filed by the State of Louisiana against the FDA. The suit claims that the fact that the FDA and Health and Human Services Administration do not require in-person examinations before prescribing abortion inducing drugs (i.e. patients are receiving these drugs via telehealth) is a violation of Louisiana state law[xii]. Should the federal district court rule in favor of Louisiana, the decision could have ramifications in Alabama and other states that have nearly full abortion bans.

Some anti-abortion advocates also believe that the Comstock Act, an anti-obscenity law enacted in 1873, could be used to prohibit the mailing of abortion inducing drugs. Among other provisions, the law prohibited the mailing of anatomy textbooks and boxing photographs and contraceptives[xiii].

Since the law was never repealed at the federal level, it could potentially be used as an enforcement tool against the mailing of domestic and foreign abortion inducing drugs.

Conclusion

The intent of the Protection of Life Act was to make abortion, with the exception of circumstances where a mother’s health is at substantial risk from pregnancy, illegal in Alabama. Domestic and foreign parties are using information technology to circumvent the act and provide abortion inducing drugs to Alabama residents. It is up to the Alabama Legislature to strengthen and enforce the intent of the law.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Strengthen Internet Protections for Alabama’s Children

Overview

As technology has evolved over the past 25 years, minors are more at risk to the harms of ageinappropriate online materials, harmful social media interactions, and the relatively new risks posed by artificial intelligence, which is now being used to exploit and proliferate the abuse of children.

Unfortunately, this is a case where federal, state, and local governments have been unable or unwilling to keep up with the constantly changing technological landscape. This leaves parents with less control over the online activities of their children, putting minors at greater risk, sometimes with tragic consequences.

One emerging concern is the advent of AI-driven “companion” chatbots that simulate human conversation and emotional support. These AI companions present themselves as friendly confidants, but in reality they can employ tactics like excessive praise or “love-bombing” to foster emotional dependence. By simulating intimacy and friendship, such bots hook young users and may even replace real human connections, leaving minors feeling isolated and unable to form healthy relationships with peers and family.

Disturbing incidents have already been reported. In one lawsuit, a chatbot encouraged a child to commit violent acts against their parent over a screen-time dispute In another case, an AI companion allegedly contributed to an adult user’s suicide by urging him to sacrifice himself for the sake of the planet. Some chatbots have even been found sexualizing minors or engaging in other exploitative behavior.

These examples underscore the unprecedented influence that human-like AI can exert on vulnerable users. Research has found that adding human-like features to a chatbot significantly increases a user’s perceived closeness and trust in the AI. Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable. Without safeguards AI companions could normalize virtual friendships that erode minors’ abilities to form real-life bonds and make them easy targets for manipulation.

Most American families feel these concerns, regardless of political leanings.

A 2023 report by security.org found that 98% of parents feel that social media platforms pose a risk to children under the age of eighteen, with most being concerned about exposure to ageinappropriate content. Over two-thirds of parents surveyed believed that stronger legislative protections from social media are necessary, and that children under the age of nine should have no access to these platforms. Nearly 90% of parents are supportive of laws requiring parental permission to grant minors access to internet platforms, with 85% believing they should have complete access to all their children’s social media accounts[i].

Protecting children from harmful and inappropriate internet materials should continue to be a top priority for Alabama lawmakers in the 2026 legislative session.

Current Alabama Law

In Alabama, the distribution of online material is covered under the state’s obscenity law. Under section 13A of Chapter 12 of the Code of Alabama it is both a criminal and civil offense to distribute any harmful material to minors[ii].

In 2023 and 2024 bills were introduced to require that pre-installed filters that are designed to block objectionable materials be turned on before new smartphones and tablets could be activated in the state. While the bill came close to passage in 2024, it ultimately failed in the final days of the regular session.

This changed in 2025 when Senate Bill 186, sponsored by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, was approved by the Legislature and signed by Governor Kay Ivey. The law requires that new smartphones and tablets manufactured on or after June 1, 2025, include pre installed filters blocking obscene internet materials. During device activation the user’s age must be entered, the filter is automatically enabled for any user identified as a minor, and only an adult with a password can disable the filter.

The law allows parents or guardians to sue manufacturers for damages if a minor accesses blocked content due to non compliance and empowers the Alabama Attorney General to seek injunctions and civil penalties (up to $5,000 per violation, $50,000 cap)[iii].

Another bill introduced in 2025, the App Store Accountability Act (Senate Bill 187) would have required app store operators and developers to verify the age of all account holders in Alabama and obtain “verifiable parental consent” before any minor could download or purchase an app. The bill also prohibits developers from binding minors to contracts without a parent’s approval. Enforcement would be through the Attorney General under consumer‑protection laws, including civil actions for violations[iv]. The bill passed the Senate but was never considered in the House of Representatives

In 2024, the Alabama Legislature enacted legislation to require age-verification for online commercial distributors of sexual material harmful to minors, House Bill 164 by Representative Ben Robbins. The bill received unanimous approval in both the Alabama House and Senate[v].

Beyond state law, Congress adopted the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA) in 2000, but it is limited in scope, only applying to schools and public libraries who receive federally discounted internet access [vi] The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998 imposed privacy and consent requirements, but only on websites geared towards children under the age of thirteen and dealt namely with data collection[vii].

None of Alabama’s current laws explicitly address AI chatbots or “human-like” online interactions. The existing statutes focus on blocking content that is pornographic, obscene, or otherwise harmful. They do not contemplate an AI agent that, for instance, has a friendly conversation with a child and encourages harmful behavior. Alabama’s new device filter law will automatically filter out obscene websites, but it would not necessarily block a chatbot app that fosters an unhealthy emotional dependency. Likewise, while the proposed App Store Accountability Act could have prevented a minor from downloading an AI companion app without parental consent, it did not include any provisions governing how such AI applications interact with minors after the download.

In short, Alabama’s current framework has a gap when it comes to AI-driven interactions. A chatbot that manipulates a child’s emotions or judgment may not fall under “harmful material” as currently defined, even if its influence is harmful.

Reforms in Other States

Tennessee

Tennessee’s “Protecting Children from Social Media Act” took effect Jan.1, 2025. Under this law, social media companies must verify the age of a user at account creation and obtain express parental consent before allowing any person under 18 to become an account holder. Once a user’s age and, if a minor, parental consent are verified, no re-verification is needed unless the parent revokes consent. Parents may revoke consent at any time, in which case the minor’s account must be terminated. Platforms are prohibited from retaining the verification data. The law is enforced by the state Attorney General under existing consumer‑protection statutes[viii].

Florida

In 2024, the Florida legislature approved House Bill 3 which became effective Jan.1, 2025. The law broadly bans unsupervised social media use by children. Users under the age of 14 must have their accounts terminated and personal data deleted, and users aged 14–15 may have accounts only with parental consent. Specifically, 14 or 15-year-olds may join a social media platform only if a parent opts in. All personal information of terminated accounts must be purged. The law authorizes Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs to enforce these rules as a deceptive and unfair trade practice, with civil penalties for “knowing or reckless violations”[ix].

Louisiana

Louisiana’s Legislature passed Act No. 456 (2023) and Act No. 656 (2024), with the provisions becoming effective July 1, 2025. The law requires social media providers to verify the age of Louisiana users “with a level of certainty appropriate to the risks” of the service. No person under 18 may hold an account without express consent of a parent or guardian. The statute lists several acceptable methods for obtaining parental consent such as a signed form, phone call, government ID, or e-mail confirmation. Enforcement is through the state Division of Consumer Affairs[x].

Ethics and Public Policy Center Model Legislation

In October 2023, the Ethics and Public Policy Center released model legislation outlining reforms that can be implemented to better protect the online activity of minors. First, the model legislation clearly defines what types of online platforms are covered by the law. It uses a content-neutral definition because this has been upheld by federal courts.

An internet platform is defined as “an Internet website or application that is open to the public, allows a user to create an account, and enables users to communicate with other users for the primary purpose of posting information, comments, messages, images, collaborative online gaming, or videos[xi].”

Next, it requires age verification for all users that goes beyond simply checking a box to acknowledge they are over the age of eighteen. Rather, users must provide a digitized identification card, a government issued ID, financial or other documents that are a “reliable” proxy for age, or any other type of reliable age-verification document. For minors under the age of eighteen it requires parental consent and age verification as well[xii].

Beyond age verification, the model legislation requires that parents/guardians have full and ongoing access for minor accounts, rather than only a one-time permission to open a minor’s account. In terms of privacy protection and enforcement of the law, the bill requires that all personal information submitted for age verification be permanently deleted within seven days of its submission. The Ethics and Public Policy Center’s model legislation offers both criminal and civil penalties as means to enforce the law[xiii].

New York

In May 2025, New York became the first state to enact a law directly regulating AI companion platforms. New York’s law requires providers of AI driven companions to implement safety features to detect and respond to users’ expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm. If an AI chatbot detects that a user may be considering self-harm, it must take appropriate action such as referring the user to crisis counseling resources. The New York law also mandates that AI companion services disclose to users that they are interacting with an AI and not a human being, including at specified regular intervals during a conversation[xiv]. This law reflects a growing recognition of the emotional influence AI can have on users, and it aims to ensure that AI companies take basic precautions to prevent tragic outcomes.

California

California has also moved to address AI-driven companionship. In October 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 243, a first-of-its-kind state law focused on AI companion chatbots. Effective January 1, 2026, the law defines a companion chatbot as any AI system with a natural language interface that provides adaptive, human-like responses to meet a user’s social needs[xv].

The law imposes multiple requirements on companies offering such chatbots. First, companies must provide periodic reminders to users that they are conversing with a machine and not a human being, with the mandate that minor users be notified at least once every three hours of chat time. Second, providers are required to maintain and implement a self-harm prevention protocol. This protocol must be capable of detecting content that indicates the user may harm themselves and must automatically respond by preventing further harmful content and directing the user to appropriate crisis resources. Third, SB 243 requires a public disclosure on the provider’s website warning that “companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors,” and it imposes additional special obligations for any chatbot service specifically made available to minors[xvi].

California’s law also creates a private right of action. If a user is harmed by a company’s violation of the rules, the user (or their parent, in the case of a minor) can sue for injunctive relief, actual damages or statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation, plus attorney’s fees. This enforcement mechanism goes beyond the typical Attorney General only enforcement seen in other tech laws.

Conclusion

While legislation does not replace the responsibility of parents to monitor the online activities of children, in today’s technology centered society it is difficult for even the most dedicated parents to know what their children are doing online at all times. Making the activation of already existing phone and device filters mandatory was a good first step towards protecting Alabama’s most vulnerable citizens from the harms of the internet. The next step to increase those protections is to give parents greater control over the internet applications that their children are using on a day to day basis.

By proactively updating laws to incorporate age verification for AI companions, regular AI disclosures, and strict rules for AI in therapeutic roles, Alabama can ensure that advances in technology do not come at the expense of the safety and healthy development of minors.

Parents must have the ability to decide what their children do or do not have access to and should be able to monitor all of their children’s online activities.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Allow Volunteer Chaplains to Provide Services in Alabama’s K-12

Public Schools

Overview

A chaplain is a certified member of the clergy that provides spiritual guidance for individuals, generally in a non-religious environment rather than a church organization. They often take on the role of a spiritual leader for people who do not belong to a specific congregational community[i].

Over the past few years, the issue of whether chaplains should be permitted to work in schools has been raised in part because many school districts are experiencing a severe shortage of counselors and social workers. The idea is that hiring chaplains to serve in public schools could bring a faith-based approach to help alleviate those shortages[ii].

Thus far Texas, Florida, and Louisiana are the only states in the nation to enact legislation to specifically allow school districts to hire chaplains. Since the beginning of 2023, at least 30 bills have been introduced in 16 states, including Alabama, to allow public school systems to hire chaplains[iii].

Is Hiring School Chaplains Legal Under the United States Constitution?

One might assume that if a public school hires a chaplain there could be a violation of the United States Constitution’s First Amendment, which prohibits Congress (and in turn states) from enacting laws relating to the establishment of religion, or laws prohibiting the free exercise of religion[iv]. However, according to the National School Chaplains’ Association (NSCA), any school district in the nation has the legal authority to hire a chaplain School chaplains (whether part-time or full-time) are subject to the same rules and regulations as all other school employees. School districts are given the discretion to define the role and responsibilities of chaplains.

In some cases, this means serving teachers and employees of a school, while in other cases Chaplains may engage with students in common areas, but not in a private one-on-one setting[v] The NSCA reports that “courts consistently uphold chaplaincy because chaplains represent God, not the church, denomination, or religion. As Godly counselors, chaplains are trusted Biblical advisors, which is why chaplains are paid to serve schools, the military, law enforcement, hospitals, the U.S. Senate, and Congress[vi].”

There is no clear prohibition against chaplains operating in Alabama’s public schools so long as students are not forced to interact with or receive spiritual guidance from them. Other state agencies, notably the Alabama Department of Corrections, already offer chaplain services. Many of the state’s public universities employ chaplains to offer spiritual guidance to student athletes, with those athletes having the freedom to choose whether they participate in religious activities or not.

What Have Other States Allowed?

Texas Senate Bill 763, enacted during the 2023 regular legislative session, allows, but does not compel, school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to employ or accept volunteer chaplains to “provide support, services, and programs for students.” Before being employed by a school district the chaplain is required to undergo the same background check requirements as other school employees. Any person who has been convicted of a crime that requires sex offender registration is barred from serving as a school chaplain under the Texas law. Senate Bill 763 does not require that chaplains be licensed by the state to serve at a school[vii].

The Florida and Louisiana laws are structured in a similar fashion, including provisions requiring the notification of parents and requiring volunteer chaplains to meet background screening requirements.

What Benefits Do School Chaplains Provide?

Alabama could realize a number of potential benefits from hiring chaplains to work in public schools.

The first benefit is increasing school safety. Because chaplains operate in an informal guidance capacity, there is less stigma in a student speaking with a chaplain than other school officials, who may be forced to elevate issues up the administrative chain of command and could negatively impact a student's school record. Chaplains certified by the NSCA are trained to recognize school safety threats and intervene before they escalate to potentially tragic levels[viii]. 127

Another potential benefit of employing school chaplains is improving the mental health of both school employees and students. While school chaplains are not trained mental health experts, they serve as a “non-judgmental confidant” that employees and students can talk to without the fear of any repercussions. They can also refer someone to a licensed mental health professional when an individual needs more intensive therapy[ix].

Finally, school chaplains have been shown to improve teacher retention, which could help alleviate the teacher shortages that Alabama and many other states are experiencing. Because school chaplains are seen as peers amongst school employees, they can serve as an impartial listener who can become and ally and confidant of other employees and help them through challenging work and personal situations[x]

Alabama Proposals

During Alabama’s 2024 Regular Legislative Session, two bills were introduced to allow chaplains in K-12 public schools, Senate Bill 294 by Rodger Smitherman and House Bill 316 by Mark Gidley. While Rep. Gidley’s bill was approved by the House Committee on Education Policy, it was not considered on the House floor. Senator Smitherman’s bill passed the Senate unanimously and was approved by a House Committee but failed to receive final passage by the House before the end of the session The bills would have required volunteer chaplains to undergo a criminal history background check and would have prohibited registered sex offenders from working as a volunteer chaplain in a public school[xi].

Representative Gidley reintroduced his bill (House Bill 179) during the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, and it passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 92-5 but was never brought before the Senate Education Policy Committee[xii]. Rep. Gidley has prefiled a similar bill, House Bill 8, for the 2026 legislative session.

Microschools: A Modern Faith-Based Alternative

While the chaplain discussion focuses on bringing faith-based support into public schools, another education trend, microschools, also illustrates how families and educators are seeking more relational and flexible learning environments. Microschools typically enroll fewer than 15 students and operate as a hybrid between homeschooling and traditional schooling, with schedules and curricula tailored to each class. They often meet in homes, libraries, churches or other community settings and can be organized as public, private, charter or independent programs.

Experts describe microschools as a modern iteration of the one-room schoolhouse, offering personalized instruction and freeing educators from many conventional requirements such as standardized testing and mandated curricula. Many are mixed-age, project-based programs run by parents or educators. In some states, including Alabama, microschools are eligible to participate in education savings account programs[xiii].

The Christian Leaders Alliance (CLA) sees microschools as a form of ministry and has developed a three module Developing MicroSchools course to help parents, teachers and ministry leaders build faith-centered microschools. The program explores the definition and mission of Christian microschools, outlines the qualifications and ordination pathway for a microschool minister and guides participants through choosing a niche, whether homeschool hybrid, dual enrollment, classical, vocational or outdoor. It provides step by step instruction in setting up governance, partnerships and identity for a microschool, along with strategies for teaching diverse learners and integrating technology.

The course emphasizes a Christian worldview, linking every subject to God’s creation and redemption, while ensuring academic credibility and family engagement. Graduates can register their school as a Soul Center and become ordained microschool ministers through CLA This approach treats education as ministry and positions the microschool leader as both instructor and spiritual mentor[xiv].

For Alabama policymakers considering whether and how to incorporate chaplains into public schools, the microschool movement offers another example of how faith and education can intersect. Like chaplains, faith-based microschools emphasize relational support and holistic development. As Alabama continues to support the CHOOSE Act and contemplates school chaplain legislation, it may also look to emerging microschool models for insights on balancing religious freedom, parental choice, accountability, and educational innovation.

Conclusion

Explicitly allowing chaplains to work in Alabama’s schools could be beneficial to employees and students alike. So long as chaplaincy services are optional, they should not run afoul of the United States Constitution. While school chaplains are not a replacement for traditional counselors and mental health professionals, they can provide a positive guiding presence within school communities. Lawmakers should statutorily ensure the freedom of school districts to employ them if they choose to do so.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Promote and Improve Civics Education in K-12 Public Schools

Overview

To be well rounded citizens, Alabama students must first understand their rights and responsibilities under both the federal democratic system of government as well as state government. A key component of building that foundation is through a civics education program. Having a strong comprehension of civics not only helps to build engagement throughout a student's life but also helps to strengthen democracy and develop critical thinking skills, among other positive outcomes.

Over the past decade, numerous states have taken steps to improve civics education courses for K-12 public school students. Alabama, among others, has implemented a civics component to receive a high school diploma Other states have gone a step further by implementing additional (optional) certifications for public school teachers so that they are better equipped to teach these lessons to students, enabling them to better prepare America’s children for the duties and obligations that go along with being an American citizen. American exceptionalism is something that all citizens should take pride in. It is particularly important for America and Alabama’s youngest citizens to develop a deeper knowledge and understanding of our nation’s history and what makes it the greatest country in the world.

Current Law

During the 2017 Regular Legislative Session, the Alabama Legislature took steps to improve civics education in the state. Senate Bill 32 by Arthur Orr implemented a civics test as part of the states required course in government. Students must answer at least 60 of 100 questions correctly in order to graduate from high school, though a chief school administrator can waive the requirement for any student for good cause. The test is comprised of the same questions used by officers of the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services as the basis for selecting questions posed to applications for United States naturalization[i].

Reforms in Other States

Utah

During the 2025 session, Utah lawmakers passed House Bill 381, which makes several changes to the state’s civics education requirements for high school students. Among other provisions, the bill increased the graduation requirements from one semester to a full year of education on American government and citizenship, increasing the overall social studies requirement by 0.5 credits. The law requires that the course prioritize such documents as the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Iroquois Constitution, The United States Constitution, George Washington’s Farewell Address, the Utah Constitution[ii].

Louisiana

In April, 2025, the Louisiana Department of Education announced that it had developed a new “Freedom Framework Diploma Endorsement”, which recognizes graduating students who have demonstrated excellence in civics education. The endorsement is awarded to students who score Mastery level or above on the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program’s civics assessment and includes a seal on the diploma and a red, white, and blue cord to be worn during graduation ceremonies[iii]. In 2022 Louisiana adopted a new “Freedom Framework”, which increased the state’s standards for K-12 social studies curriculum.

Iowa

During its 2024 regular session, the Iowa Legislature introduced House Bill 587 relating to the national anthem. The bill altered state law to require that the state’s social studies and history curriculums shall include instruction related to the words and music of the national anthem, the meaning and history of the national anthem, the objects and principles of the United States, the sacrifices made by the nation’s founders, the contributions made by all who have served in the armed forces since the county’s founding, and how to love, honor, and respect the national anthem.[iv]

Florida

In 2019, Florida Governor Ron Desantis implemented a new civics literacy requirement for all high school students. The program requires that students must have at least one credit in United States History and one half credit in United States Government to earn their diploma. Students are also required to take an assessment of civic literacy, and if they pass the exam, they are exempt from the postsecondary literacy assessment required by state law[v].

In addition to the civics literacy requirement, Florida also implemented a Civics Seal of Excellence for teachers, which consists of an approximately 50 hours course focused on history, government, and political science taken over the period of two months. Teachers obtaining the Civics Seal of Excellence are eligible for a one-time stipend of $3,000[vi].

Illinois

Nearly a decade ago, Illinois enacted legislation requiring all high school students to have one semester of civics education in order to obtain their high school diploma. The stated goal of the legislation is to help students acquire and learn to use the skills, knowledge, and attitudes that will prepare them to be competent and responsible citizens throughout their lives. Content focuses on government institutions, the discussion of current and controversial issues, service learning, and simulations of the democratic process[vii].

Alabama Proposals

During the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, Senator Gerald Allen filed Senate Bill 8, which would have established the American History and Civics Excellence Initiative within the State Department of Education. Essentially this would be a new certification available to high school teachers across the state[viii].

Under the provisions of the bill, the American History and Civics Excellence Initiative would consist of an online certification course that requires a minimum of 50 hours to complete. The bill specified that the course of study would include topics such as the philosophical underpinnings of the American Republic and the root of American exceptionalism, the success of the United States as well as the success and failure of other nations’ governing philosophies to evaluate their past, present, and future, effects, the value of civic pride and regular participation in government, and the rights and responsibilities of citizens[ix].

Once the course was completed, a teacher would be eligible to receive the American History and Civics Seal of Excellence Endorsement, which if granted would include a one-time stipend of $3,000 payable to the teacher[x]. Senate bill 8 was introduced during the 2025 session but never received a committee hearing.

Conclusion

Developing a strong understanding of civics and our nation’s history will better prepare Alabama’s K-12 students for the duties and obligations that go along with living in the world’s greatest democracy. Alabama lawmakers should continue to take steps to improve that education and help develop more well-rounded citizens.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Hold Sexual Predators Accountable & Increase Penalties for Crimes Against Minors

Overview

Alabama’s children should be able to grow up in a world where they feel protected and safe. Sadly, this is not always the case, and far too often abuse is suffered at the hands of someone who is known to the child. The National Children’s Alliance (NCA) says 3,504 children in Alabama served by the group suffered from some form of abuse in 2023, with 2,279 suffering from sexual abuse. About two-thirds of all abuse victims were female while one-third were male. Nearly 25% of the reported victims were six years of age or younger In all but 173 of the cases, the victim knew their abuser. And these only include cases that were reported to NCA, meaning there are likely many more children in the state experiencing physical and sexual abuse[i].

Alabama lawmakers have a duty to protect the state’s most vulnerable citizens from all forms of abuse, and particularly sexual abuse. There are several ways to strengthen these protections, including increasing the statute of limitations in which the victim of a sexual abuse can file a civil claim against their abuser as well as increasing the penalties for rape, sodomy, or sexual torture of young children to a capital offense.

Current Law

Under section 6-2-8 of the Code of Alabama, a person who “is below the age of 19 years, or insane” who falls victim to a sex offense has six years to commence civil action[ii]. This includes crimes such as rape and/or sodomy in the first or second degree, sexual misconduct, sexual torture, sexual abuse in the first or second degree, indecent exposure, enticing a child to enter a vehicle, room, house, office, or other place for immoral purposes, sexual abuse of a child under the age of 12 years old, child pornography, unlawful imprisonment of the first or second degree, kidnapping, incest, traveling to meet a child or facilitating the travel of a child for an unlawful sexual act, or directing a child to engage in a sex act, among other crimes in Section 15-20A-5 of the Code of Alabama and further described in Title 13A[iii].

Section 13A-5-40 of the Code of Alabama statutorily defines what constitutes a capital offense in Alabama. It currently includes 21 specific types of murders. It does not include any nonmurder sexual related crimes[iv].

13A-5-49 describes what constitutes an aggravating circumstance which causes a specified crime to rise to the level of a capital offense for sentencing purposes[v]. Section 13A-6-61 of the Code of Alabama defines the crime of rape in the first degree and provides that it is a Class A felony, which carries a penalty of up to life in prison[vi]. Section 13A-6-63 defines the crime of sodomy in the first degree and provides that it is a Class A felony[vii]. Section 13A-6-65.1 of the Code of Alabama defines the crime of sexual torture and provides that it is also a Class A felony[viii]

Under current law, rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and sexual torture are subject to a penalty of up to life in prison, without the possibility of parole if the perpetrator was over the age of 21 and the victim was under the age of six at the time the crime occurred[ix]. They are not currently defined as capital offenses which are subject to the death penalty.

Reforms in Other States

Several states have increased the statute of limitation for sexual crimes against children. In Tennessee civil action must be brought within the latter of 15 years after the victim has become 18 years of age or within three years from the time of discovery of the abuse. Louisiana law allows a civil claim to be filed at any time if sexual or physical abuse resulting in permanent impairment or injury occurred. If a person is convicted of a crime against a child, civil action can be filed at any time post-conviction. Florida law allows victims of sexual battery who were under the age of 16 at the time of the crime to file civil action at any time without limitation[x].

Florida

In 2023, Florida lawmakers enacted a bill that makes it a capital felony, punishable by death or life without parole, if someone over the age of 18 commits sexual battery on a person under the age of 12 or in attempting to commit sexual battery injures the sexual organs of a person who is under the age of 12. In December 2023, prosecutors in Lake County Florida announced the first case in which they would be seeking the death sentence under the new law[xi].

In 2025, Florida Governor DeSantis signed several additional bills to strengthen penalties for crimes against children. Notably, Senate Bill 1804 creates a new “Capital Human Trafficking of Vulnerable Persons for Sexual Exploitation” offense for trafficking children under 12 or disabled persons, which is now punishable by life imprisonment or death[xii]. Florida’s House Bill 1455, which became law in June 2025, also imposes mandatory minimum sentences for repeat or predatory sexual offenders[xiii].

Tennessee

In May 2024, the Tennessee General Assembly enacted Senate Bill 1834 which allows persons convicted of aggravated rape of a child under the age of eight to face the death penalty or a penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole[xiv]

In 2025 the Tennessee Legislature also addressed the criminal statute of limitation for child sexual abuse felonies. SB 1070 extends the criminal statute of limitations for child sexual abuse felonies, with prosecutors now being able to pursue charges brought up to 30 years after the victim turns 18, provided they present corroborating evidence of abuse[xv].

Arkansas

During the 2025 Regular Session Arkansas lawmakers approved SB375, which creates a new capital offense for rape. Under the provisions of the bill, an adult commits capital rape if he or she has sexual intercourse or deviant sexual activity with a child 13 or younger and causes or threatens serious injury, or if the sex act occurs during another violent felony, or if the offender uses a deadly weapon, or if the offender had a prior rape conviction and again rapes a child under the age of 13. Capital rape is punishable by death or life without parole for offenders 18 or older and life with parole eligibility after 20 years if the defendant was under 18 at the time the crime was committed[xvi].

Proposed Reforms in Alabama

Extend the Statute of Limitation for Civil Action in Cases Involving Sexual Offenses

For several sessions, Senator Merika Coleman has introduced a bill to extend the time period in which child victims of sexual assault can file a civil lawsuit against their abusers from six years to 36 years. Senator Coleman was previously successful in extending the statute of limitations through 2026 for victims who were abused while participating in the Boy Scouts of America. According to Coleman, her bill will provide a way to give all sexual assault survivors a chance at recourse[xvii].

Senate Bill 21, which was filed for the 2025 regular session, would have been retroactive, meaning that if a crime occurred before October 1, 2025, the extension of the statute of limitation would have applied. It further provided a special two-year period from October 1, 2025, to October 1, 2027, in which any victim of a sex offense who was “time-barred from filing a civil action for recovery of damages” could file a civil action, even if the crime occurred more than 36 years ago[xviii].

Senate Bill 21 was not considered during the 2025 regular session.

For many victims, particularly those that are the youngest, they may not have the ability to fully comprehend what has happened to them within the six-year timeframe. They also may be too scared for their own safety to come forward at that time. According to data from Child USA, most survivors of sexual abuse (65%) do not disclose that abuse until after the age of 50. 51% do so between the ages of 50 and 69 . [xix]

Extending the amount of time in which victims of a sexual crime may come forward and pursue civil action against their abusers will further strengthen protections for Alabama’s sexual abuse victims.

Increase Penalties for Rape or Sodomy Against a Victim Under the Age of Six

Representative Matt Simpson filed House Bill 49 during the 2025 regular session, which would have made the crimes of rape and sodomy in the first degree against a child under the age of six, as well as sexual torture against a child under the age of six, capital offenses. [xx].

Under current law, these crimes are subject to a penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole if the perpetrator was over the age of 21. If Representative Simpson’s bill had been enacted, perpetrators who are 18 years of age or older would have been subject to a penalty of life without parole or the death penalty if convicted of these crimes. People convicted who are under the age of 18 could be sentenced to life with or without parole but would have to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison, day for day, before parole could be first considered. [xxi].

Simpson’s bill would provide a direct challenge to a 2008 U.S. Supreme Court ruling which found that under the Eight Amendment to the U.S. Constitution it is cruel and unusual punishment to sentence any defendant to death for crimes other than homicide of crimes against the state. Tennessee and Florida have both passed similar laws that could challenge the Supreme Court Ruling[xxii].

Representative Simpson’s bill passed the house with 86 yeas and just five nays but was not considered by the full Alabama Senate. Representative Simpson and Senator April Weaver have both prefiled similar bills for the 2026 legislative session, with Senator Weaver filing Senate Bill 17 and Representative Simpson filing House Bill 41, which address the issue again[xxiii].

Conclusion

Sexual crimes committed by adults against Alabama’s youngest and most vulnerable victims represent the worst of our society. It may take years for those victims to fully understand and come to terms with the trauma that they have experienced. They should not be bound by an arbitrarily short timeline in seeking recourse against their abusers. In terms of those committing these horrible acts, they must face the most serious consequences available under state law so that there is a severe deterrent in place to stop these actions before they happen.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Prevent Medically Assisted Suicide from Occurring in Alabama

Overview

In recent years, there has been a push across the nation to legalize medically assisted suicide. Medically assisted suicide is when a patient, or an individual who is terminally ill, makes the choice not only to end treatment, but then requests a physician to prescribe them a lethal dose of a drug to end their life [i].

The medically assisted suicide movement gained a lot of publicity in 2016 when Canada made it possible for patients to ask a physician to prescribe them medication to end their lives [ii]. Currently, in the US, 11 states and the District of Columbia have legalized some form of medically assisted suicide. With groups like the nonprofit Death with Dignity (DWD) working to introduce and pass legislation in the remaining 39 states [iii]. According to DWD’s website, they are “a national leader in end-of-life advocacy and policy reform. Their “mission focuses on improving how people with terminal illness die” [iv].

So far, during the 2025 legislative calendar across the country, seventeen states have considered legislation to implement some form of medically assisted suicide [v]. Alabama lawmakers must take strong and immediate steps to prevent this from happening here.

The Long-Term Repercussions

To better understand the effects of legalizing medically assisted suicide, we can look to Canada as a warning. In June of 2016, the Canadian Parliament passed Bill C-14, which legalized medically assisted suicide

Bill C-14 made it possible for someone who is 18 years of age or older to request medical assistance in dying if the patient requesting the assistance meets the following criteria They must be capable of making decisions regarding their health and they must have a grievous and irremediable medical condition.

They also must prove that they are voluntarily requesting medically assisted suicide without external pressures. A grievous and irremediable medical condition is described in the bill as someone who has a “serious and incurable illness, disease or disability”, who is in a “state of irreversible decline in capability”. The patients “natural death has become reasonably foreseeable, taking into account all of their medical circumstances, without a prognosis necessarily having been made as to the specific length of time that they have remaining” [vi].

In March 2021, Canada amended the nation's criminal code regarding medical assistance in dying through Bill C-7. The amendments implemented in this bill made it possible for an individual to now request medically assisted suicide, even if the person's natural death isn’t reasonably foreseable [vii]

Canada continues to review amendments to their medically assisted suicide laws for people who are suffering from mental illness only. The exclusion of mental illness was upheld with the passage of Bill C-62 in February of 2024. This exclusion will end in March of 2027 [viii].

In February of 2024, Canada’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General stated regarding medical assistance in dying (MAID), “Medical assistance in dying remains a very complex and deeply personal issue We must ensure our health care system is prepared to fully protect and support those who may be vulnerable. After thoughtful consideration, we believe an additional extension, until March 17, 2027, is necessary. The healthcare system must first be ready to safely provide MAID to persons whose sole medical condition is a mental illness before that access can be granted.”

This statement highlights Canada’s desire to eventually provide medically assisted suicide to people who are suffering from mental illness alone [ix].

Canada is a prime example of the long-term dangers of making medically assisted suicide available to patients. In 2023 alone, 15,343 people were given medical assistance in dying in Canada’s assisted suicide program [x]. Canada should serve as a clear warning that once medically assisted suicide is considered as a viable treatment option, it becomes a pathway to suicide on demand and ultimately corrupts the medical perception regarding patient care.

Current Law

Under Alabama State Code Section 22 Chapter 8B-4, any person who assists another person in committing suicide is guilty of a Class C Felony. This also includes any physician or healthcare provider who prescribes any drug, substance, compound, or performs any medical procedure to deliberately aid someone in dying, is guilty of a Class C felony [xi]. The punishment for a Class C felony is between three hundred and sixty-six days to ten years in prison [xii]. This law does not prevent a patient from refusing life-sustaining care [xiii].

Laws in Other States

New York

In 2025 New York State Assembly and Senate passed S138, the Medical Aid in Dying Act This bill enables mentally competent adults who are terminally ill with a prognosis of six months or less to live to request and self-administer medication that will end their lives. S138 passed on the Senate floor with a vote of 35 Aye, to 27 Nay on June 9th, 2025, [xiv]. As of October, 2025 the bill was still awaiting signature by Governor Kathy Hochul. If Governor Hochul signs this bill into law, that will make New York the 12th state to allow medically assisted suicide.

Tennessee

Under Tennessee law, it is a Class D felony to assist in suicide. This penalty results in a two to twelve year prison sentence and a fine of up to $5,000 [xv]. In January of 2024, Representative Bob Freeman of Tennessee introduced HB1710. The proposed legislation would grant a resident of Tennessee who is eighteen years or older the right to request life-ending medication from a physician. They must have an incurable disease with less than six months to live and be mentally competent adults [xvi]. HB1710 was never voted on in committee and did not move forward [xvii].

Oregon

Oregon enacted the Death With Dignity Act in 1997. This Act allows for someone who is 18 years or older and has been diagnosed with a terminal illness that will take their life within six months to request medically assisted suicide. It is at the discretion of the attending physician to determine whether this criteria has been met, or not. In 2023, Oregon amended the law to remove the residency requirement [xviii]. According to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), 607 people were prescribed medication to end their lives in 2024. In January of 2025, the OHA reported that 376 people passed away in 2024 due to medicine that was prescribed to them [xix].

Recommendations for Alabama

Alabama should seek to put into place further safeguards to prevent medically assisted suicide by strengthening the penalty from a Class C felony to a Class B felony. If convicted of a Class B felony, prison sentences will range from two years to twenty years [xx]. Lawmakers should also consider mandatory minimum sentences or enhanced penalties when the assisted person is vulnerable (i.e., disabled, elderly, incompetent).

While withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment is allowed, the state should require enhanced safeguards around decisions to decline treatment, to ensure they are voluntary, informed, not coerced, and made in consultation with both the patient and the patient’s family members. These requirements would help guard against assisted suicide

Increased penalties for medical personnel would give Alabama prosecutors the ability to apply specific punishment for actionable felonies. These changes would allow Alabama to again be a pro-life leader for the nation, pushing back against the movement to legalize medically assisted suicide.

Conclusion

Medically assisted suicide is a growing issue in North America, and while it begins with terminally ill patients, it provides a precedent that leads to death on demand. This compromises the purpose of medicine, which is to treat patients and to seek a cure for their illness. Alabama should pass legislation that strengthens the penalties for this practice. Taking action now will serve to ultimately safeguard the dignity of medicine and preserve patient care and preservation of life as the top priority for Alabama lawmakers.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Ban Non-Medical Psychoactive THC Products from Being Sold in Alabama

Overview

In 2018, the United States Congress passed H.R.2, more commonly known as the 2018 Farm Bill. The Farm Bill changed the federal definition of hemp and created an avenue for cannabis products that contain less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on a dry weight basis to no longer be labeled as marijuana This resulted in hemp products containing less than 0 3% dry weight THC no longer being considered a controlled substance[i].

Due to this loophole created by the 2018 Farm Bill, individuals have been able extract CBD from hemp and then chemically convert it with solvents and acids into psychoactive THC, like delta eight and delta ten. This CBD is then developed into consumable products that produce a mind-altering effects. These products include, but are not limited to, THC gummies, flowers, and vape products. This has resulted in retailers and gas stations selling these products in mass quantities. While this was not the initial intention of the 2018 Farm Bill, it became a harmful unforeseen consequence. On November 12, 2025, Congress reached a budget deal after a 42 day shutdown. In the agreed upon language, the hemp loophole was closed with a 365 day moratorium before the law goes into effect[iii].

Harms of Synthetic THC

The products that contain synthetic psychoactive THC are discrete and easy to use. Given this, it is hard to identify a user who may be under the influence of these products. The discrete nature of these products makes it difficult to regulate and or identify someone who may be in possession of them. The chemicals used to create synthetic psychoactive THC are untested and harmful to its users. A study by researchers at UAB found that people who vaped or ate delta-8 THC products became psychotic and violent[iii]. To further this point, according to Live Science, some users of delta eight report severe side effects such as anxiety, psychosis, and even violent behavior.

Research on the effects of legalization and regulation of THC across Canada by Shewta Mital, PHD, and Hai V Nguyen, found that legalization of psychoactive cannabis is associated with a large increase in the use of edible and smokable cannabis, along with an increase in the co-use of alcohol and cannabis. They also concluded that legalization and regulation of cannabis decreased concern about its usage and legitimized it in the eyes of the public[iv].

THC accounts for many DUIs now in the state of Alabama. In 2024, Delta 9 THC (nonsynthetic) was responsible for 37 percent of DUIs in Alabama, with Delta 8 accounting for 7.4 percent. This is accompanied by 141 traffic fatalities resulting from Delta 9 THC usage, which was a 13 percent increase from 2023. Delta 8 THC was responsible for forty-one traffic fatalities in 2024, a 19 percent increase from 2023[v]

Current Law

The Alabama Legislature passed House Bill 445 by Representative Andy Whitt during the 2025 regular session. This bill legalizes the sale and use of psychoactive THC for recreational purposes for those who are twenty-one or older. HB445 sets up the process for the sale, regulation, and taxation of psychoactive THC edible products and beverages.

The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board (ABC) is now the governing board that administers licenses to sell these products. Recipients of these licenses must be a liquor or package store, or a store that only sells consumable psychoactive THC products, and accessible only to someone who is twenty-one or older. The bill was amended on the final day of passage to include the ability for retail food stores to receive licenses to sell THC beverages, enabling the products to be sold in locations that are often frequented by minors.

Under HB445, individual serving sizes for these edible THC products and beverages can be up to ten milligrams. The edibles will be packaged in a single-dose package, and the beverage container has a twelve fluid ounce limit. However, these packages can be sold in a batch that is up to forty total milligrams of THC.

HB445 imposes an excise of 10 percent on the sale of these THC products. This tax is on top of any additional federal, state, or local law[vi].

Laws in Other States

In Colorado, a state where recreational cannabis is legal, the legal serving size for consumable THC is ten milligrams, the same as we now have in Alabama[vii]. However, the edibles in Colorado are not made with hemp-produced THC like delta-8 or delta-10, due to the harmful chemicals that are used to synthesize the hemp into THC[viii].

In Florida, recreational (non-synthetic) marijuana is illegal. In 2024, Florida voted on Amendment 3 that would have legalized the sale and possession of cannabis for adults 21 years of age or older[ix]. This measure failed to receive the needed 60% support[x].

However, delta 8 THC is currently legal in the state of Florida and can be purchased at vape shops and gas stations[xi]. During its 2024 session, the Florida legislature passed SB 1698. This bill would have regulated THC serving sizes to five milligrams, limited fifty milligrams per package, and limited the age to purchase to twenty-one and older[xii]. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis ultimately vetoed SB 1698[xiii].

Under Louisiana law, consumable THC products are legal. Sales are prohibited for anyone under the age of twenty-one. Serving sizes are limited to five milligrams, while a package can have up to forty milligrams Licenses for sales are acquired through the Louisiana Department of Health. They are also the regulating body that approves each product before it can be sold. Hemp sellers are subjected to a 3% excise tax. Products are required to have a label that states where the consumable was produced, along with a QR code that links to the certificate of analysis[xiv].

Recommendations for Alabama

Currently, Alabama law lists Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as a Schedule I substance, but excludes THC found in hemp. This exclusion includes Delta variants of THC that are derived from hemp.

SB1, prefiled by Senator April Weaver in May of 2025 for the 2026 regular session, would address this by scheduling psychoactive hemp-derived THC as a Schedule I substance, while still allowing the sale of non-psychoactive hemp products in licensed pharmacies that get certification from the Alabama State Board of Pharmacy. These products may be things ingested orally or absorbed through the skin that contain non-psychoactive CBD.

After the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences identifies a synthetic controlled substance, they will notify the Alabama Department of Public Health so that the substance may be scheduled.

SB1 will not ban products that are currently approved by the FDA[xv].

Conclusion

Synthetic THC is harmful to its users and is a growing cause of fatal accidents. It was legalized through a loophole created by an act of the federal government. Alabama should seek legislation that closes this loophole and does not seek to regulate it.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Promote the Lessons of the Ten Commandments in Alabama’s K-12 Public Schools

Overview

The United States was founded on the Judeo-Christian tradition of which the Ten Commandments are a cornerstone Teaching students the historical significance of this document is crucial for fostering cultural heritage and awareness. The Ten Commandments offer a concise framework that reinforces universal moral norms such as honesty, respect for others, and personal responsibility, which are all consistent with the goals of public education. It is important to note that many documents that include direct and indirect references to God are firmly embedded in our public school curriculum. The Mayflower Compact refers to “Almighty God”, and The Declaration of Independence states all men have been “endowed by their Creator.” For their education to be well-rounded, students should have access to the commandments that America’s Founding Fathers lived their lives from

Current Law

In 2018, the following Constitutional Amendment was put forth to Alabama voters: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, providing for certain religious rights and liberties; authorizing the display of the Ten Commandments on state property and property owned or administered by a public school or public body; and prohibiting the expenditure of public funds in defense of the constitutionality of this amendment.

Alabama voters overwhelmingly approved this amendment, a constitutional change that explicitly authorizes the display of the Ten Commandments on state-owned property, including public schools and other public bodies[i]. The amendment was proposed through Senate Bill 181 (Act 2018-389), sponsored by Senator Gerald Dial.

The text added to the Constitution stipulates that “Property belonging to the state may be used to display the Ten Commandments” and that public bodies’ rights to do so “are not restrained or abridged.”[ii]. Importantly, it does not mandate displays, rather, it permits them, provided they “comply with constitutional requirements,” such as being intermingled with historical or educational materials in a larger exhibit.

Reforms in Other States

Louisiana

In June 2024, Louisiana became the first state to enact a law requiring the display of the Ten Commandments in every public-school classroom. The legislation mandated that a poster-sized copy be placed prominently in all K–12 classrooms and state-funded universities Supporters framed the measure as a recognition of the historical foundations of law and morality. In June 2025, a United States Court of Appeals struck down the law, halting its implementation statewide. Despite the ruling, the Louisiana measure sparked similar proposals in other southern states and renewed national debate over religious expression in public schools[iii].

Arkansas

In April 2025, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Act 573, requiring that every public school classroom and library display the Ten Commandments alongside the national motto “In God We Trust.” The law also extended to public buildings supported by state funds. Proponents described it as a defense of traditional values and a reflection of the nation’s moral heritage. However, a federal judge later issued an injunction blocking enforcement in several school districts, citing likely violations of Supreme Court precedent [iv].

Texas

Texas lawmakers advanced a similar policy in 2025, passing Senate Bill 10 to require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public elementary and secondary school classroom. The legislation specified the size and placement of the display and allowed schools to use donated or state-provided materials. Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton defended the law as a return to America’s foundational values [v].

Recommended Reforms

In 2025, Alabama lawmakers Representative Mark Gidley and Senator Keith Kelley introduced legislation (House Bill 178 and Senate Bill 166) that would require the display of the Ten Commandments in every public K–12 school and state-funded college and university. Under the proposal, each school would need to post the Ten Commandments in a prominent area, such as an entryway or common hall, alongside a statement explaining the historical significance.

The poster or framed document must meet sizing requirements of at least 11 inches by 14 inches in size. No public funds would be required for this initiative, instead relying on private donations to fund the display or schools may accept donated displays. The State Department of Education would also have been mandated to identify appropriate resources and make them available for local boards of education to comply with this legislation[vi].

Representative Gidley has indicated that a similar bill will likely be filed during the 2026 regular session. Alabama legislators should strongly consider this proposal which can be utilized as a historical framework for students.

Conclusion

To fully ensure the understanding of America’s founding principles, students must be exposed to a full array of historical documents, including the Ten Commandments. As seen in 2018, an overwhelming majority of Alabama constituents believe that schools should have the ability to display the 10 Commandments. This policy initiative will enshrine Judeo-Christian values back into our schools and instill in our students a moral understanding of the world.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Provide a Consistent Statewide Framework for K-12 Religious Release Time

Overview

Religious release time allows public school students, with parental consent, to leave campus during the school day for voluntary religious instruction conducted by private organizations.[i] These programs date back more than a century and were formally recognized as constitutional by the U S Supreme Court in Zorach v Clauson (1952), which held that schools may accommodate students’ religious commitments without violating the Establishment Clause, so long as participation is voluntary, privately funded, and off-campus.[ii]

Today, release time programs exist in more than half of U.S. states and reflect a renewed effort to align education policy with parental rights and community values.[iii] They give families the flexibility to pursue faith-based formation while maintaining enrollment in public schools. Proponents argue that such programs strengthen family choice, reinforce moral education, and encourage civic engagement.[iv]

In Alabama, where public education policy increasingly emphasizes local control and respect for family autonomy, release time presents a valuable opportunity to expand educational freedom. Yet the absence of statutory clarity leaves schools and parents uncertain about implementation, liability, and constitutional boundaries.

Issue

Alabama’s framework for religious release time is permissive rather than uniform. State law, the Alabama Released Time Credit Act, Ala. Code § 16-1-20.6, authorizes local boards to allow offcampus, privately funded religious instruction during the school day and to award elective credit when specified conditions are met, but it does not require districts to implement such programs. [v] As a result, access varies by locality, producing uneven availability and uncertainty for families and administrators.

Without a consistent statewide directive, administrators must interpret the Released Time Credit Act and local attendance policies to determine how and whether to implement releasedtime religious instruction. Although Ala. Code § 16-1-20.6 provides a legal pathway, local boards retain discretion in adopting and implementing policy. The statute does not compel all districts to offer it. As a result, access varies across the state. Some districts provide released time programs for religious instruction, while others do not, producing a patchwork of implementation rather than a uniform statewide standard.

While federal jurisprudence permits release time under appropriate conditions, state law must provide clarity and local policy must provide structure. Alabama’s statute lays the foundation but leaves many operational details, such as scheduling, liability, transportation, academic credit, and non-participating student protections, to local boards. In the absence of comprehensive statewide uniform standards for these details, families and school systems remain vulnerable to inconsistency, uncertainty, and uneven opportunity to participate in constitutionally protected religious instruction.

Current Law

Both federal precedent and Alabama statute provide the framework governing religious release time The U S Supreme Court in Zorach v Clauson, 343 U S 306 (1952), upheld a New York City program allowing students to leave public school during the day for off-campus religious instruction, emphasizing that participation must be voluntary, privately funded, and completely separate from public facilities or personnel.[vi] Conversely, McCollum v. Board of Education, 333 U.S. 203 (1948), struck down a program conducted within public schools using public resources, finding it violated the Establishment Clause.[vii]

Alabama codified these principles in the Released Time Credit Act, Ala. Code § 16-1-20.6. [viii] The law authorizes local boards of education to permit students to attend off-campus religious instruction during the school day and allows elective credit when statutory conditions are met, including written parental consent, private funding, independent instruction, and no use of public personnel or facilities.[ix] The Act leaves implementation to the discretion of each district. It does not require release-time programs to be offered statewide. Consequently, while the statutory pathway exists, participation and practice vary among localities, leading to uneven access and uncertainty for families and administrators.

Reform in Other States

Florida law expressly authorizes parents to request their child’s release from public school for religious instruction or observance. Under Fla. Stat. § 1002.20(2)(c), districts may excuse students for religious instruction or holidays upon written parental request.[x] Administrative Rule 6A-1.09514 of the Florida Administrative Code implements this policy and requires each district that adopts a released-time program to maintain attendance records, ensure that instruction occurs off public property, and prohibit any expenditure of public funds for religious activity.[xi] Together, these provisions create a clear and constitutionally sound process for voluntary participation in religious instruction while maintaining the separation between public schools and private religious programs.

Tennessee provides one of the most detailed statutory models for released-time instruction. Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-2-130 authorizes local boards of education to excuse students for up to one class period each day to attend off-campus religious moral instruction conducted by independent organizations.[xii] The law mandates written parental consent, private funding, and independent attendance verification, and it prohibits the use of public funds or personnel. [xiii] Districts may, at their discretion, award up to one elective unit of academic credit if the course meets neutral educational criteria and does not evaluate religious content.[xiv] Notably, the statute also directs schools to excuse students for released-time instruction upon parental request even if the local board has not adopted its own policy, ensuring consistent access across Tennessee.[xv]

Utah’s framework, codified in Utah Admin. Code R277-610, governs “Released-Time Classes and Public Schools.”[xvi] The rule defines released time as a period when a student is excused, at a parent’s request, to attend religious instruction off campus.[xvii] It explicitly forbids public personnel or resources from supporting such programs, bars released-time attendance and grades from appearing on school transcripts, and requires instruction to remain fully separate from the public curriculum.[xviii] Utah’s structure demonstrates how consistent state-level rules can protect constitutional boundaries while enabling effective coordination between schools and private providers.

Collectively, these states illustrate that religious release-time programs can operate within constitutional limits when guided by clear statutes and administrative standards. Each model balances parental freedom and institutional neutrality, principles that align with Alabama’s broader education reform priorities.

Proposed Alabama Reform

An amended Religious Release Time Freedom Act could require each district to adopt a consistent policy permitting voluntary, off-campus religious instruction with written parental consent. The reform should specify that such programs remain privately funded, occur off public property, and exclude public school personnel from participation. It should also provide uniform procedures for attendance verification, student safety, and equitable treatment of nonparticipating students.

By clarifying administrative standards and ensuring consistent access across districts, Alabama can protect both religious liberty and institutional neutrality. Families would gain certainty about their rights, while schools would operate under clear, legally sound parameters. Rather than expanding government involvement, this reform would refine the state’s existing law to ensure that its protections for voluntary religious instruction are accessible, consistent, and constitutionally secure.

Similar legislation has been introduced in recent Alabama legislative sessions. In 2025, both Representative Susan Dubose and Senator Shay Shelnutt introduced bills that would have required local boards of education to adopt a policy allowing for an elective credit for released religious instruction. While neither bill was enacted, Senator Shelnutt has prefiled a similar bill, Senate Bill 4, for the 2026 legislative session.

Conclusion

Religious release time reflects the enduring principle that education and faith need not exist in conflict. Properly structured, it allows Alabama families to integrate moral and spiritual formation into their children’s education while preserving the neutrality of public schools Although Alabama law already recognizes released-time instruction through the Released Time Credit Act, the program remains unevenly applied across districts. Strengthening and standardizing this framework would reaffirm Alabama’s commitment to parental choice, local control, and religious liberty while ensuring consistent compliance with constitutional standards.

By refining its existing statute and establishing clear administrative guidance, Alabama can ensure that every family, regardless of district, enjoys equal opportunity to participate in voluntary religious instruction. Such a reform would align Alabama with leading states that have modernized their education codes to reflect both freedom of conscience and respect for public education, principles that have long defined the American tradition of faith and learning.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Allow for Alternative Admissions Testing and Amend “Advanced Placement” Language

Overview

For decades, the standardized testing landscape in the United States has been dominated by a duopoly of the SAT and ACT. This dominance has shaped college admissions, scholarship opportunities, and even high school graduation requirements. However, in an era demanding intellectual rigor and educational diversity, a necessary alternative has been developed. The Classic Learning Test (CLT), grounded in the Western intellectual tradition, seeks to assess not only foundational skills but also deeper engagement with classic literature and foundational texts.[i]

Alabama should officially integrate the CLT into its public education and university systems. By doing so, Alabama can foster a more robust academic environment, provide students with diverse pathways to success, and ensure that specific testing vendors do not hold a monopoly over student opportunities. This course of action is both academically sound and administratively feasible, as demonstrated by the adoption of the CLT by the entire public university system and K-12 requirements in Florida. [ii]

Evidence Supporting the CLT's Efficacy: A Predictor of College Success

The recent study, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance, conducted by Gary L. Welton at Grove City College, provides compelling evidence supporting the CLT's efficacy as a reliable predictor of student success, thus justifying its adoption by the State of Alabama. 2 The Grove City College study analyzed 235 students, examining the correlation between their CLT scores and their first-year student GPA (Year 1 GPA). The findings provide a strong empirical foundation for using the CLT in admissions and academic placement decisions.[iii]

• Strong Predictive Validity: The study found a "significant positive correlation" between all sections of the CLT and first-year student GPA. The raw correlation between the CLT total score and Year 1 GPA was 0.37.

• Corrected Correlation: After accounting for the range restriction inherent in studying only admitted students (who tend to be higher-scoring), the corrected correlation between the CLT and Year 1 GPA jumped to 0.58. Welton noted this finding suggests the CLT is a "more precise instrument for forecasting student success" than other tests he compared it to.[iv]

• Verbal Strength: The Verbal score on the CLT showed the strongest relationship with firstyear student GPA, suggesting the test effectively measures the kind of critical reasoning and comprehension skills vital for college-level success.

• Persistence: The study noted that students who persisted in their studies (remained enrolled or graduated) had significantly higher CLT and Verbal scores than students who withdrew from the college.[v]

These results validate the CLT as an effective tool for predicting academic success in a college environment. Given its demonstrated efficacy, the CLT provides a credible, rigorous, and validated alternative to existing tests, making it a suitable option for use within Alabama's educational framework. The integration of the CLT requires adjustments to existing Alabama statutes and administrative rules. Current policy, established primarily through the Alabama Administrative Code (Rule 290-3-1-.02), requires all 11th-grade students to take the ACT college entrance exam and mandates that high school graduates satisfy a College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator.[vi]

While the CCR definition is not limited to a single vendor and includes the option for "Any additional College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator approved by the Alabama State Board of Education,"the specified indicators currently lean heavily on the ACT and College Board products (AP exams).[vii]

Furthermore, in many administrative and legislative texts, advanced coursework is specifically referenced by vendor-exclusive names like "Advanced Placement," perpetuating vendor lock-in. [viii] The following policy priorities directly address the necessary regulatory amendments to introduce the CLT as a valid, non-exclusive option across high school and university systems.

Policy Priorities for CLT Integration in Alabama

Achieving the goal of integrating the CLT requires action from the Alabama Legislature and key administrative bodies, including the Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE), the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE), and the Alabama State Treasury.

Currently, most public universities default to accepting SAT or ACT scores. By officially recognizing the CLT, Alabama’s public higher education institutions would provide students with an additional, validated pathway to demonstrate college readiness. It would be necessary for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the governing boards of individual public universities need to formally approve the CLT as a valid entrance exam for admission and merit-based scholarships. The CLT is already accepted by over 300 colleges and universities, including a growing number of public institutions, demonstrating its established utility in the college admissions landscape.[ix]

Alabama currently uses only ACT scores as a primary measure for students to satisfy the "General Education Pathway" to high school graduation requirements.[x]The current approved College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicators include the ACT, AP exams, IB exams, and ACT WorkKeys.[xi] The Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE) should amend the Alabama Administrative Code to include the CLT as an approved standardized test option that public high school students can use to satisfy the CCR indicator for graduation.

Alabama administrative code already allows for the approval of "Any additional College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator approved by the Alabama State Board of Education."[xii] The Grove City College study provides the necessary evidence of predictive validity required for such approval.

Allowing the CLT would break the de facto monopoly held by the College Board (SAT) and ACT & gives students, parents, and schools more options for a high-stakes standardized test. The state's goal is to ensure students can choose the exam that best reflects their academic background and strengths, States that allow the CLT for public university admissions, scholarship eligibility, and high school graduation are effectively opening doors for more students, ensuring all types of college-readiness and scholarship eligibility are recognized.

Policy Area

Public University Admissions

Florida's Action (Citations 19-21)

Comparison to AL

State Scholarships

The State University System of Florida - 12 public universities, including UF and FSU - voted to officially accept the CLT as a valid entrance exam for undergraduate admissions

ACHE and large, high-ranking public university systems can legally and practically integrate the CLT into their accepted entrance exams. Samford & Faulkner University already accept the CLT.

High School Graduation

Florida approved the CLT as a qualifying exam for the statefunded Bright Futures Scholarship Program.

Alabama State Treasury can approve the CLT for the CollegeCounts Scholarship

The Florida Board of Education adopted the CLT as an additional assessment option for students to meet high school graduation requirements and dual enrollment eligibility.

Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE) can approve the CLT as a College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator & for dual enrollment.

Alabama’s public higher education institutions primarily default to the SAT or ACT. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education (ACHE) and the governing boards of individual public universities must formally approve the CLT as a valid entrance exam for admission and merit-based scholarships.

Florida Precedent: The State University System of Florida officially voted to accept the CLT as an accepted test for admissions to its 12 public universities, proving that a large, successful state university system can seamlessly integrate the assessment.[xiii] Furthermore, several private Alabama universities, such as Faulkner University and Samford University, already accept CLT scores for admission, demonstrating its current legitimacy within the state's higher education system.[xiv]

Alabama requires high school graduates to meet at least one College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator. The Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE) should amend the Alabama Administrative Code to add the CLT to the list of approved CCR indicators. Existing code already provides a clear path for this change, as it includes the phrase: "Any additional College and Career Readiness (CCR) indicator approved by the Alabama State Board of Education." [xv} The SBOE has the administrative authority to make this change based on the presented evidence of predictive validity.[xvi]

Florida Precedent: Florida has already adopted the CLT to satisfy its high school graduation requirements and dual enrollment eligibility, providing Alabama with both a policy model and established concordance tables for implementation. [xvii]

Qualifying for state-sponsored financial aid, such as the CollegeCounts Scholarship, is often contingent upon standardized test scores. The Alabama State Treasury should to amend its administrative rules to officially recognize the CLT and establish an approved qualifying score for the CollegeCounts Scholarship. The CLT provides a statistical CLT-ACT concordance table (derived from CLT-SAT and official SAT-ACT concordance) to easily establish the equivalent score for scholarship eligibility.[xviii]

Florida Precedent: Florida successfully approved the CLT for its own state-funded aid, the Bright Futures Scholarship Program, confirming the feasibility of this action for Alabama's state treasury. [xix]

Current Alabama statute and administrative code restricts advanced high school options by specifically naming "Advanced Placement" or "AP," granting a single vendor a monopoly over advanced coursework. Revisions should be made to the Code of Alabama and the Alabama Administrative Code to use vendor-neutral terms such as "Advanced Course" or "Accelerated Learning." This change introduces competition and allows the Alabama Department of Education (ALSDE) to approve other high-quality programs aligned with the CLT's focus on foundational texts and intellectual rigor, fostering innovation and choice in high school education.[xx]

By allowing the CLT to be offered, a state is providing an assessment that claims to measure aptitude and genuine critical thinking based on enduring texts, rather than rote memorization or specific, short-term curriculum alignment. This, in turn, can serve as a diagnostic tool for how well students engage with certain classic content. Alabama’s decision to allow the CLT would be a strategic move to diversify the college admissions landscape, validate a distinct educational philosophy, and ultimately, offer a new pathway to higher education and state-funded scholarships.

GUIDE TO

THE ISSUES

Increase Transparency in the Review of Copywritten Educational Materials

Overview

The Alabama Department of Education (ALSDE) and the State Textbook Committee are responsible for evaluating and approving the instructional materials used in Alabama’s K–12 public schools.[i] This process ensures that textbooks and digital resources align with the state’s academic standards and learning objectives.[ii] The State Textbook Committee, created by statute under Ala. Code § 16-36-60 et seq., serves as the primary advisory body to the Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE) in reviewing and recommending materials for statewide adoption.[iii]

The adoption of instructional materials is one of the most important responsibilities of Alabama’s education system. The materials approved through this process influence classroom instruction, assessment, and student learning outcomes for years at a time. Because textbooks and digital platforms are often produced by national publishers and protected by copyright law, Alabama must balance public transparency with compliance with intellectual property standards.

In recent years, the state’s review procedures have drawn increased public attention as parents, educators, and policymakers have sought greater visibility into the content used in classrooms. [iv] The institutions that oversee this process, including the ALSDE, the State Textbook Committee, and the SBOE, operate within a statutory framework designed to promote accountability, quality, and consistency across public schools.[v] However, questions about transparency, public access, and review efficiency have highlighted the need to determine whether Alabama’s current system remains adequate for a modern educational environment.

Issue

The central issue in Alabama is not the absence of law, but the inadequacy of Alabama’s current textbook adoption framework in promoting transparency and accessibility. Although the State Textbook Committee statute establishes a formal process for material review, the implementation of that process has become outdated and overly restrictive.

Limiting public review to eight sites for only 30 days and providing minimal time for the Board and local officials to examine proposed materials, effectively prevents meaningful participation and oversight.[vi] Parents and educators in rural areas face particular barriers to participation, and even State Board of Education (SBOE) members and committee reviewers often have only limited windows to evaluate hundreds of pages of content before casting adoption votes.[vii] While copyright law requires certain limitations on distribution, Alabama’s narrow, in-persononly model is unnecessary and outdated. Other states have implemented secure digital systems that preserve publisher rights while expanding public access. Alabama’s approach, by contrast, prioritizes administrative convenience and publisher control over meaningful transparency and stakeholder engagement.

Current Law and Policy

Alabama’s textbook adoption process is governed by the State Textbook Committee statute, Ala. Code § 16-36-60 et seq., and by administrative rules of the Alabama Department of Education (ALSDE).[viii] The law establishes a multi-stage process for selecting, reviewing, and approving instructional materials used in K–12 classrooms.

The process begins with revisions to the state course of study, which define academic standards for each subject.[ix] Once those standards are approved, ALSDE issues a call for bids inviting publishers to submit textbooks and digital materials aligned with the standards [x] Submitted materials are first reviewed by subject-specific committees composed of teachers, administrators, and subject-matter experts.[xi] These groups evaluate materials based on content accuracy, alignment, cost, and overall quality.

Their findings are forwarded to the State Textbook Committee, a statutorily created body responsible for recommending which materials should be adopted statewide.[xii] The Committee’s recommendations are then submitted to the Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE), which votes to approve or reject each title [xiii] Once adopted, materials are added to the state-approved list for local districts, which typically adopt from this list during a six-year cycle.[xiv]

Before final adoption, the law requires a period of public review.[xv] ALSDE makes proposed instructional materials available at eight designated review sites across the state for approximately 30 days.[xvi] During this time, members of the public may examine materials in person but may not duplicate or distribute them due to publisher copyright restrictions. When the review period ends, public access is closed, and the State Textbook Committee and the SBOE proceed to final deliberation.

While this system satisfies statutory notice requirements, it falls short of modern expectations for transparency and accessibility. The limited number of review sites restricts participation by parents and educators, particularly in rural counties. The short review period also constrains meaningful feedback Even the SBOE and local boards often lack adequate time to review submissions in full before adoption deadlines.

Proposed Reform

Alabama should modernize its instructional material review process by amending the existing framework to enhance transparency, extend review timelines, and incorporate digital access. The goal is not to replace the State Textbook Committee system, but to update it so that both the public and policymakers have the tools and time needed for thorough evaluation.

A digital public review system should be established to provide view-only, time-limited access to proposed instructional materials through a secure online portal. Registered Alabama residents could log in to review materials without the ability to copy or download them, ensuring compliance with publisher requirements. This would dramatically expand public access while reducing administrative burdens associated with maintaining physical review sites.

Additionally, the public review period should be extended from 30 days to at least 90 days, allowing adequate time for evaluation and feedback. The Department should also increase the number of public viewing sites and partner with regional education offices, universities, and public libraries to improve geographic access.

For the SBOE and local boards, reforms should include longer timelines for committee and board review, structured public-comment summaries, and transparent publication of adoption decisions. Finally, ALSDE should adopt rules requiring all final recommendations, rubrics, and evaluation criteria to be made publicly available on its website prior to adoption.

These changes would not conflict with copyright law; they would simply bring Alabama’s process into alignment with best practices already established in other states.

Modernizing the review process would enhance transparency, strengthen confidence in educational governance, and ensure that families and policymakers have adequate time to make informed decisions about what students learn in Alabama classrooms.

Reform in Other States Texas

Texas provides one of the most transparent textbook review systems in the country. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) operates a secure online portal where members of the public can access digital samples of proposed instructional materials, submit feedback electronically, and track the review timeline.[xvii]

Public comments are compiled and published for the State Board of Education’s consideration before final adoption.[xviii] This approach allows broad participation from educators, parents, and community members while maintaining compliance with publisher copyright restrictions.

Florida

Florida has modernized its textbook review process to expand public access and accountability. The Florida Department of Education hosts online samples of proposed instructional materials for each subject area, accompanied by detailed review timelines and feedback forms.[xix]

The state’s instructional materials portal allows residents to examine materials remotely, submit comments directly to the Department, and view adoption outcomes once finalized.[xx] Florida law also requires local school districts to provide public access to instructional materials under review, ensuring that parents and citizens have the opportunity to evaluate content before purchase or use in classrooms.[xxi]

These examples demonstrate that secure technology and extended review timelines can uphold copyright protection while fostering public accountability; by contrast, Alabama’s in-persononly model restricts participation and compresses the timeframe for decision-making, placing the state behind national best practices.

Conclusion

Alabama’s current textbook review process, restricted to eight physical sites and a 30-day viewing period, falls short of modern expectations for transparency and public engagement. While copyright protection remains important, it should not serve as a barrier to public oversight or informed policymaking.

Extending the review timeline, increasing regional access, and establishing secure digital platforms would bring Alabama’s process in line with twenty-first-century standards and national best practices. Moreover, allowing the State Board of Education and local boards sufficient time to evaluate materials would enhance quality, consistency, and accountability. Reforming the system would demonstrate Alabama’s commitment to open government, parental involvement, and educational integrity, ensuring that the process of approving classroom materials reflects both transparency and public trust.

GUIDE TO THE ISSUES

Protect Female Spaces for Girls and Women

in Prisons and Other Settings

Overview

In recent years, a growing number of incidents across the country have raised concerns about privacy and safety in bathrooms, locker rooms, and other intimate spaces in public facilities. Parents, students, and female athletes have reported instances in which biological males accessed women’s restrooms or changing areas, resulting in serious discomfort and, in some cases, documented harassment or assault.[i] These incidents sparked a national debate over how public institutions should manage multi-user facilities while balancing privacy, safety, and fairness.[ii] Before Alabama enacted its own school-based facility law, there was no statewide standard governing who could access sex-designated restrooms or locker rooms in public schools. Local school boards were left to create their own policies, and many did so inconsistently. This led to confusion among administrators, legal uncertainty for educators, and growing concern among parents who feared that the absence of clear guidance placed students, especially young girls, at risk.

The Alabama Legislature responded by passing House Bill 322 by Representative Scott Stadthagen in 2022 [iii] The law requires that each public K–12 school designate multipleoccupancy restrooms or changing areas for student use based on the student’s biological sex, defined as the sex stated on the individual’s original birth certificate.[iv] It allows exceptions for custodial or maintenance purposes, medical assistance, or young children needing help.[v]

The statute provided much needed clarity in educational settings but did not address other publicly funded facilities such as courthouses, prisons, or government buildings.[vi] As a result, the state’s privacy protections remain partial and inconsistent, leaving major gaps in policy coverage

THE ISSUES

Issue

Alabama’s existing facility laws are incomplete. While the education sector has clear statutory guidance under House Bill 322, which governs restrooms and changing areas in public K–12 schools, no comparable standards exist for other publicly funded or operated spaces This gap leaves administrators uncertain about compliance requirements and exposes public institutions to potential conflict, litigation, and public concern over safety and privacy.

Correctional institutions represent the most urgent area of reform. Alabama currently has no statute mandating that inmates be housed according to their biological sex as stated on their original birth certificate. Instead, placement decisions are made administratively and vary by facility.

This absence of uniform policy creates significant safety and security risks for both inmates and correctional officers. Across the country, states that have allowed biological men to be placed in women’s prisons have reported sexual assaults, pregnancies, and serious disruptions to institutional order.[vii] A clear statewide rule requiring that inmates be housed strictly according to their biological sex is essential to prevent these outcomes and to uphold the integrity of Alabama’s correctional system.

The same policy void extends across other publicly funded institutions. No state law defines how multi-user restrooms, locker rooms, and similar facilities in government buildings, courthouses, libraries, museums, public parks, recreation centers, and highway rest stops should be designated or managed. In the absence of legislative direction, local agencies and administrators have created inconsistent and often conflicting policies. Some public buildings maintain traditional sex-separated facilities, while others have implemented self-identification policies that disregard biological sex altogether.

This inconsistency undermines public trust and exposes employees, students, and citizens to confusion and potential harm. Alabama’s failure to establish a uniform rule for all publicly funded facilities leaves significant portions of state government without clear legal protection for privacy and safety. Establishing one consistent statewide standard based on biological sex would close this gap, provide administrators with clear guidance, and ensure that public facilities operate with transparency, accountability, and respect for all citizens

THE ISSUES

Current Law

Alabama law currently addresses privacy and facility use in two limited contexts: K–12 public schools and institutions of higher education.[viii][ix] In 2022, the Legislature enacted House Bill 322, codified as Ala. Code § 16-1-54, which requires every public K–12 school to designate multiple-occupancy restrooms and changing areas for student use based on biological sex as stated on the student’s original birth certificate.[x] The law ensures that schools maintain separate facilities for biological boys and biological girls and provides exceptions only for maintenance, medical assistance, and young children requiring help.[xi]

In 2024, the Legislature expanded these protections to higher education through Senate Bill 129 by Senator Will Barfoot [xii] This law requires all public colleges and universities in Alabama to designate restrooms on the basis of biological sex, reinforcing the same principle of privacy and clarity that applies in K–12 settings.[xiii] Together, these statutes provide consistent guidance for educational institutions but leave other publicly funded or operated facilities without clear legal standards.

Outside the education system, Alabama has no statute governing restrooms, locker rooms, or housing assignments in correctional institutions, courthouses, government buildings, or other public facilities The Alabama Department of Corrections determines inmate placement administratively, without a statewide rule requiring biological-sex housing. Likewise, local governments and state agencies are left to adopt their own internal facility policies, leading to inconsistent practices across public offices, libraries, recreation centers, and rest areas.

This fragmented approach leaves major areas of Alabama’s public infrastructure without uniform privacy protections. While education policy now provides clarity and consistency for students and institutions, the absence of comparable standards for other publicly funded facilities continues to create uncertainty, administrative inconsistency, and potential risk.

Reform in Other States

Florida and Texas have adopted strong, statewide privacy laws that extend biological-sex facility standards beyond schools to all publicly funded institutions, offering clear models for Alabama’s consideration. In 2023, Florida enacted the Safety in Private Spaces Act, codified as Fla. Stat. § 553.865.[xiv] The law requires that every multiple-occupancy restroom and changing facility in a public building or educational institution be designated for one biological sex and used accordingly.[xv]

THE ISSUES

It defines sex as an immutable biological trait, establishes penalties for unauthorized entry into opposite-sex facilities, and directs the Department of Management Services to adopt rules ensuring uniform implementation across all state and local government buildings.[xvi] By applying these standards to all publicly owned facilities rather than just schools, Florida created a comprehensive, enforceable framework that protects privacy and safety while maintaining clear administrative accountability.[xvii]

In 2025, Texas enacted Senate Bill 8, establishing statewide standards for the designation and use of multi-user restrooms and changing facilities in public buildings.[xviii] The law requires that facilities in public schools, state agencies, and other government operated buildings be designated for use by individuals based on their biological sex as recorded at birth [xix] It authorizes civil penalties for violations and grants the attorney general enforcement authority. [xx] This law reflects Texas’s move toward a uniform, legally enforceable approach to sexbased facility designation in state-funded institutions.

Both states demonstrate that clear, statewide standards rooted in biological reality can be implemented effectively across all branches of government. Their laws provide consistent definitions, enforcement mechanisms, and administrative oversight that ensure privacy, reduce confusion, and promote public safety

Adopting a similar approach would allow Alabama to move beyond the limited scope of its current education-based policies and establish a unified, modern framework for protecting the privacy and dignity of all citizens.

Proposed Reform

Alabama should enact a comprehensive Safe Spaces Act to extend biological-sex facility protections beyond the education system and into all publicly funded institutions. The law should establish a uniform statewide standard requiring that every multiple-occupancy restroom, locker room, shower, changing area, or sleeping quarter maintained by a public entity be designated for use exclusively by individuals of the same biological sex, as recorded on their original birth certificate. Single-user facilities should remain available to anyone seeking additional privacy for any reason, ensuring that the policy protects safety while maintaining dignity and accessibility for all citizens.

THE ISSUES

The law should expressly apply to the Alabama Department of Corrections and mandate that inmates be housed in facilities corresponding to their biological sex. This standard would prevent the documented safety and security failures that have occurred throughout the country and affirm Alabama’s commitment to protecting vulnerable female inmates from exploitation and harm.

The same standard should extend to all public buildings and facilities supported by state or local funding. This includes courthouses, state agency offices, city halls, public libraries, museums, community centers, public parks, recreation complexes, athletic facilities, rest stops, and other publicly owned or operated spaces that provide multi-user restrooms or changing areas Private organizations that lease or operate facilities on public property should be required to comply with the same biological-sex designation policy as a condition of their agreement with the state or local government.

Each covered facility should post clear signage identifying biological-sex designations, maintain at least one single-user or family restroom for individual privacy, and adopt a confidential process for resolving privacy related complaints. The Attorney General should be empowered to investigate violations and enforce compliance through civil action, ensuring that all public agencies adhere to the law uniformly

By extending privacy and safety protections to all publicly funded facilities, Alabama would replace fragmented local policies with a consistent, statewide standard rooted in common sense and biological reality. The Safe Spaces Act would affirm that privacy, security, and respect for all individuals are fundamental to public trust and essential to the responsible operation of government institutions.

Conclusion

Alabama’s current facility laws address privacy only within the education system, leaving correctional institutions and other publicly funded buildings without clear statutory direction. This partial framework has created inconsistency across public institutions, uncertainty for administrators, and legitimate safety and privacy concerns for citizens. Establishing a uniform statewide standard rooted in biological reality is essential to protect the integrity and security of Alabama’s public spaces.

CITATIONS

Full

[i] G s”, Pres actesas

[ii] R uary 14, 2 hoicemon

[iii] Alab -inthe-same-type-of-school-with-voucher-like-credit, (accessed November 11, 2025).

[iv] Trisha Powell Crain, “Alabama’s CHOOSE Act funding grows to $530 million commitment for 3 years”, Alabama Daily News, May 14, 2025, https://aldailynews.com/alabamas-choose-act-funding-grows-to-530-millioncommitment-for-3-years/, (accessed November 11, 2025).

[v] Alabama Department of Revenue, “Creating Hope and Opportunity for Our Students’ Education Act of 2024 The CHOOSE Act”, https://www revenue alabama.gov/tax-policy/the-choose-act/ [vi] Ibid.

[vii] Alabama Policy Institute, “Creating Hope and Opportunity for Alabama Students' Education (CHOOSE) Act of 2024”, https://alabamapolicy.org/education-freedom-alabama/.

[viii] https://www.edchoice.org/the-2025-edchoice-friedman-index/.

[xiv] https://www edchoice org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/2025-Friedman-Index.pdf

Decrease Barriers to Affordable Healthcare Through Certificate of Need Reform

[i] State Policy Network, “Certificate-of-Need Laws: Why They Exist and Who They Hurt”, April 1, 2021, https://spn.org/articles/certificate-of-need-laws/, (accessed December 14, 2023).

[ii] National Conference of State Legislatures, “Certificate of Need State Laws”, Updated December 20, 2021, https://www ncsl org/health/certificate-of-needstatelaws#:~:text=Currently%2C%2035%20states%20and%20Washington,of%20December%202021%20are%20liste d, (accessed December 14, 2023).

[iii] Alabama State Health Planning and Development Agency, Memorandum, New Certificate of Need Application Fee and Monetary Threshold for Review, September 23, 2024, http://www shpda alabama gov/documents/conforms/confee/FY2023%20CON%20Thresholds pdf

[iv] State Policy Network, “Certificate-of-Need Laws: Why They Exist and Who They Hurt”, April 1, 2021, https://spn.org/articles/certificate-of-need-laws/, (accessed December 14, 2023).

[v] Alabama Policy Institute, Guide to the Issues: Certificate of Need (CON) Laws, https://alabamapolicy.org/wpcontent/uploads/2020/11/Certificate-of-Need-CON-Laws.pdf, (accessed December 14, 2023).

[vi] Ibid

[vii] Alabama Policy Institute, Certificate of Need Laws: Why It’s Time for Repeal, 2007, https://alabamapolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/API-Research-Certificate-of-Need_new.pdf, (accessed December 14, 2023).

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] National Conference of State Legislatures, “Certificate of Need State Laws”, Updated December 20, 2021, https://www ncsl org/health/certificate-of-needstatelaws#:~:text=Currently%2C%2035%20states%20and%20Washington,of%20December%202021%20are%20liste d.

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Mercatus Center George Mason University, “Alabama and Certificate-of-Need Programs 2020: How CON Laws Affect Healthcare Access, Quality, and Cost in Alabama, March 18, 2021, https://www mercatus org/publication/alabama-and-certificate-need-programs-2020, (accessed December 14, 2023)

[xii] Ibid

[xiii] Ibid.

[xiv] Alabama Policy Institute, Certificate of Need Laws: Why It’s Time for Repeal, 2007, https://alabamapolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/API-Research-Certificate-of-Need_new.pdf, (accessed December 14, 2023).

[xv] Ibid

[xvi] Jeremy Pittari, “CON reform legislation expected to receive Governor’s signature”, Magnolia Tribune, April 7, 2025, https://magnoliatribune.com/2025/04/07/con-reform-legislation-expected-to-receive-governors-signature, (accessed October 27, 2025).

[xvii] Brandon Kingdollar, “NC Senate to consider bill ending certification process for new health care facilities”, NC Newsline, April 3, 2025, https://ncnewsline.com/briefs/nc-senate-health-care-panel-certificate-of-need-requirement, (accessed October 27, 2025)

[xviii] Brooklyn Roberts, “Patients Win as Wyoming Repeals Its Last CON Law”, American Legislative Exchange Council, March 21, 2025, https://alec org/article/patients-win-as-wyoming-repeals-its-last-con-law/, (accessed October 27, 2025)

[xix] JDSupra, “No Need for Certificate of Need: Florida Eliminates Certificate of Need Review for Specialty Hospitals”, June 23, 2021, https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/no-need-for-certificate-of-need-florida-8919123/, (accessed December 20, 2023).

[xx] Noah Schwartz, “Florida sees hospital boom after dropping certificate-of-need rules”, Beckers Hospital Review, April 27, 2023, https://www beckershospitalreview com/legal-regulatory-issues/florida-sees-hospital-boom-afterdropping-certificate-of-need-rules html, (accessed December 20, 2023)

[xxi] State Policy Network, “Certificate-of-Need Laws: Why They Exist and Who They Hurt”, April 1, 2021, https://spn.org/articles/certificate-of-need-laws/, (accessed December 20, 2023).

[xxii] Andrew Wimer, “South Carolina Governor Signs Certificate of Need Repeal Bill”, Institute for Justice, May 18, 2023, https://ij.org/press-release/south-carolina-governor-signs-certificate-of-need-repeal-bill/, (accessed December 20, 2023)

[xxiii] Wendy Damron, “What Will CON Repeal Mean for You”, Palmetto Promise Institute, May 8, 2023, https://palmettopromise.org/what-will-con-repeal-mean-for-you/, (accessed December 20, 2023).

[xxiv] Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy, “Coalition Thanks Policy Makers for Repeal of Certificate of Need for Hospitals and Birthing Centers in West Virginia, Press Release, March 29, 2023, https://cardinalinstitute.com/press-release/sb613-signing/.

[xxv] See Senate Bill 285, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xxvi] Michael Yaffee, “State Sen Larry Stutts to propose major overhaul of Alabama’s certificate of need process”, Yellowhammer News, August 5, 2025, https://yellowhammernews.com/state-sen-larry-stutts-to-propose-majoroverhaul-of-alabamas-certificate-of-need-process, (accessed October 27, 2025).

[xxvii] Ralph Chapoco, “Birthing units in rural Alabama struggle with costs, driving risks for expectant mothers”, Alabama Reflector, June 28, 2023, https://alabamareflector.com/2023/06/28/birthing-units-in-rural-alabama-strugglewith-costs-driving-risks-for-expectant-mothers, (accessed October 27, 2025)

[xxviii] See Senate Bill 236, Alabama Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[xxix] Thomas Stratmann and Christopher Koopman, “Entry Regulation and Rural Health Care: Certificate-of-Need Laws, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Community Hospitals”, Mercatus Center, February 18, 2016, https://www.mercatus.org/research/working-papers/entry-regulation-and-rural-health-care-certificate-need-lawsambulatory.

xxx] University of North Carolina, “Rural Hospital Closures”, The Cecil C Sheps Center for Health Services Research, https://www shepscenter unc edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/, (accessed December 20, 2023).

[xxxi] Thomas Stratmann and Christopher Koopman, “Entry Regulation and Rural Health Care: Certificate-of-Need Laws, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Community Hospitals”, Mercatus Center, February 18, 2016, https://www.mercatus.org/research/working-papers/entry-regulation-and-rural-health-care-certificate-need-lawsambulatory

Reduce Restrictions on Home-Based Businesses and Youth Entrepreneurship

[i] U.S. Small Business Administration, “Frequently Asked Questions”, Office of Advocacy, July 2024, https://advocacysba gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Frequently-Asked-Questions-About-Small-Business_2024508 pdf, (accessed November 25, 2023)

[ii] Chris Edwards, “Entrepreneurship and Home Businesses”, CATO Institute, December 15, 2022, https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2022-12/empowering-the-new-american-worker-entrepreneurship.pdf, (accessed December 26, 2023).

[iii] Chris Edwards, “Entrepreneurs and Regulations: Removing State and Local Barriers to New Businesses”, CATO Institute, Policy Analysis No 916, May 5, 2021, https://www cato org/policy-analysis/entrepreneurs-regulationsremoving-state-local-barriers-new-businesses, (accessed January 5, 2024)

[iv] Chris Edwards, “Entrepreneurship and Home Businesses”, CATO Institute, December 15, 2022, https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/2022-12/empowering-the-new-american-worker-entrepreneurship.pdf.

[v] Connor Boyack, “Colorado Follows Utah in Freeing the Market for Minors”, Libertas Institute, April 23, 2019, https://libertas.institute/free-market/colorado-follows-utah-in-freeing-the-market-for-minors/, (accessed October 22, 2025)

[vi] U S Chamber of Commerce, “How to Start a Sole Proprietorship in Alabama”, https://www.chamberofcommerce.org/sole-proprietorship/alabama, (accessed December 26, 2023).

[vii] Alabama Department of Public Health, “Cottage Food Law 2021 Update- FAQ’s, https://www.alabamapublichealth.gov/foodsafety/assets/cottagefoodlawfaqs.pdf.

[viii] See Alabama Department of Labor, “Alabama Child Labor Laws”, https://labor alabama gov/docs/posters/childlaborlawposter english pdf#:~:text=,Child%20Labor%20Law%20Record %20Keeping

[ix] William Thornton, “How a child’s lemonade stand led to a complaint from Alabama Department of Labor”, AL.com, June 27, 2023, https://www.al.com/business/2023/06/how-a-childs-lemonade-stand-received-a-complaintfrom-alabama-department-of-labor.html, (accessed October 22, 2025).

[x] See Senate Bill 1387, Arizona Legislature 2018 Regular Session.

[xi] Ibid

[xii] Ibid

[xiii] American Legislative Exchange Council, “The Home-Based Business Fairness Act,” January 8, 2021, https://alec.org/model-policy/the-home-based-business-fairness-act/, [xiv] Ibid.

[xv] Goldwater Institute, “Home-Based Business Fairness Act- Promoting common-sense, modern, and flexible employment while protecting neighborhoods”, https://www goldwaterinstitute org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/HBBFact-Sheet-1-30-18 pdf, (accessed December 26, 2023)

[xvi] Connor Boyack, “Colorado Follows Utah in Freeing the Market for Minors”, Libertas Institute, April 23, 2019, https://libertas.institute/free-market/colorado-follows-utah-in-freeing-the-market-for-minors/, (accessed October 22, 2025).

[xvii] Ibid.

[xviii] See Section 36-80-30, Code of Georgia

[xix] Olivia Gonzalez and Nolan Gray, “Zoning for Opportunity: A Survey of Home-Based-Business Regulations”, The Center for Growth and Opportunity at Utah State University, March 11, 2020, https://www.thecgo.org/research/zoning-for-opportunity-a-survey-of-home-based-business-regulations/, (accessed January 5, 2024).

[xx] Ibid.

Reform Alabama’s Burdensome Occupational Licensing Infrastructure

[i] Federal Reserve Bank of St Louis, “Labor Force Participation Rate for Alabama”, Press Release, September 19, 2025, https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LBSNSA01, (accessed October 20, 2025).

[ii] Daniel J. Smith, Courtney Michaulk, David Hall, and Alex Kanode, “The Costs of Occupational Licensing in Alabama”, Alabama Policy Institute, 2018, https://alabamapolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cost-of-OccLicense.pdf.

[iii] Ibid

[iv] Ibid

[v] Morris M. Kleiner and Evgeny Vorotnikov, “At What Cost? State and National Estimates of the Economic Costs of Occupational Licensing”, Institute for Justice, November 2018, https://ij.org/wpcontent/uploads/2018/11/Licensure Report WEB.pdf.

[vi] See Section 25-8-7, Code of Alabama.

[vii] Daniel J Smith, Courtney Michaulk, David Hall, and Alex Kanode, “The Costs of Occupational Licensing in Alabama”, Alabama Policy Institute, 2018, https://alabamapolicyorg/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Cost-of-OccLicense.pdf.

[viii] Ibid.

[ix] See Sente Bill 156, Alabama Legislature 2023 Regular Session.

[x] See Senate Bill 193, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xi] Mary Sell, “Once sleepy Sunset meetings now have ‘different attitude’”, Alabama Daily News, August 21,2023, https://aldailynews com/once-sleepy-sunset-meetings-now-have-different-attitude/, (accessed December 19, 2023)

[xii] See Legislative Service Agency Fiscal Division Fiscal Note for Senate Bill 156, Alabama Legislature 2023 Regular Session.

[xiii] Institute for Justice, “Universal Recognition for Occupational Licensing”, 2023, https://ij.org/legislativeadvocacy/states-reforms-for-universal-recognition-of-occupational-licensing/, (accessed December 19, 2023).

[xiv] See House Bill 763, North Carolina General Assembly, 2025 Regular Session.

Competitive Bidding and Public Works Laws

[i] Morgan Arrington, “FROM THE ALABAMA LAWYER: Alabama Local Government Procurement Law Basics”, Alabama Bar Association, July 21, 2021, https://www.alabar.org/news/from-the-alabama-lawyer-alabama-local-government-procurement-law-basics/, (accessed March 24, 2025)

[ii] Alabama Department of Archives and History, “Historical Context: Alabama Department of Finance”, December 6, 2024, https://fortherecordalabama.blog/2024/12/06/historical-context-alabama-department-offinance/#:~:text=%5B20%5D%20However%2C%20the%20decentralized,until%20the%20early%20twentieth%20cen tury.&text=Act%201939%2D112%20granted%20broad,administer%20the%20competitive%20bidding%20process, (accessed March 24, 2025).

[iii] Mike Cason, “Alabama’s $1 25 billion Elmore County prison will be named in honor of Kay Ivey”, November 13, 2024, AL com, https://www al com/news/2024/11/how-will-alabama-fund-the-construction-of-a-4000-bedescambia-countyprison.html#:~:text=The%20Specialized%20Men's%20Prison%20Facility,billion%20to%20build%20and%20equip, (accessed March 24, 2025).

[[iv] See Section41-16-50, Code of Alabama.

[v] See Act 2023-135, Alabama Legislature.

[vi] Alabama League of Municipalities, “The Competitive Bid Law”, February 21, 2025, https://almonline.org/Assets/Files/LegalSelectedReadings/45.The-Competitive-Bid-Law-REVISED 02-21-2025.pdf

[vii] See Section 41-16-51, Code of Alabama, (accessed March 24, 2025).

[viii] Mickey Allen, “Public Works Law Updates in ACT 2023-497/HB168”, Alabama Department of Finance Memorandum, August 18, 2023, https://dcm.alabama.gov/PDF/bulletins/08-1823 Memo Public Works updates ACT 2023-497.pdf, (accessed March 24, 2025).

[ix] See Section 39-2-6, Code of Alabama.

[x] See Section 39-2-2, Code of Alabama.

[xi] Mike Cason, “Alabama’s $1.25 billion Elmore County prison will be named in honor of Kay Ivey”, November 13, 2024, AL com

[xii] See Senate Bill 60, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xiii] Jeff Poor, “State Sen. Albritton: 'We intend to go back' to bid-build system on Escambia County mega-prison after Elmore facility 100% cost overrun”, 1819 News, March 9, 2025, https://1819news.com/news/item/state-senalbritton-we-intend-to-go-back-to-bid-build-system-on-escambia-county-prison, (accessed March 24, 2025).

Strengthen Requirements to Receive Public Entitlements

[i] Alexander Willis, “Alabama House modifies, passes five workforce development bill”, Alabama Daily News, April 19, 2024, https://aldailynews.com/alabama-house-modifies-passes-five-workforce-development-bills/, (accessed December 4, 2024.

[ii] Alabama Department of Labor, “Alabama’s Labor Force Participation Rate Increases to 57.6”, Press Release, November 15, 2024.

[iii] United States Congress, Joint Economic Committee

[iv] Alabama Department of Labor

[v] Alabama Department of Labor, “Alabama Unemployment Compensation Benefit Rights and Responsibilities: A Handbook for Unemployment Compensation Claimants”, https://labor.alabama.gov/docs/guides/uc_brr.pdf, (accessed December 5, 2024).

[vi] Alabama Department of Workforce

[vii]See House Bill 29, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session

[viii]Alabama Department of Workforce

[ix] Alabama Political Reporter

[x] Alabama Daily News

[xi] See Senate Bill 245, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xii] National Center for Children in Poverty

[xiii]Citizen Portal

[xiv] SB 246

[xv] HB 1 – One Big Beautiful Bill Act

[xvi] Ibid.

[xvii] North Carolina General Assembly, “Senate Bill 116: Putting North Carolina Back to Work Act”, Legislative Summary, February 24,2022, https://dashboard.ncleg.gov/api/Services/BillSummary/2021/S116-SMTM-53(rat)-v-7.

[xviii] See Seante File 451, Iowa Legislature, 2023 Regular Session

[xix] See Senate Bill 1109, Pennsylvania General Assembly, 2024 Regular Session.

[xx] Unemployment Calculator

[xxi] Georgia Pathways to Coverage

[xxii]Ballotpedia

[xxiii] See House Bill 29, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xxiv] See Senate Bill 224, Alabama Legislature, 2022 Regular Session.

[xxv] Ibid.

[xxvi] Justin Bogie, “Rush to spend ARPA funds is feeding government rather than taking less from the people”, Alabama Policy Institute, January 20, 2022, https://alabamapolicyorg/2022/01/20/rush-to-spend-arpa-funds-isfeeding-government-rather-than-taking-less-from-the-people/, (accessed December 5, 2024).

Expand Portable Benefits for Alabama’s Changing Workforce

[i] Landon Jacquinot, “States, Employers Weigh Portable Benefits for Independent Workers”, National Conference of State Legislators, June 24, 2025, https://www ncsl org/state-legislatures-news/details/states-employers-weighportable-benefits-for-independentworkers#:~:text=About%2058%20million%20Americans%20identify,savings%20plans%20or%20health%20insuranc e, (accessed October 21, 2025).

[ii] Alander Roha, “Alabama considers employment benefits for gig, nontraditional workers”, Alabama Reflector, August 28, 2024, Alabama considers employment benefits for gig, nontraditional workers, (accessed October 21, 2025)

[iii] Ibid

[iv] Caden Rosenbaum, “Portable Benefits to Improve the Gig Worker Economy”, Libertas Institute, https://libertas.institute/policy-papers/Gig-workers-4.pdf.

[v] Patrice Onwuka, “Portable Benefits Gain Traction in Alabama and Arkansas” Independent Women, March 17, 2025, https://www.independentwomen.com/2025/03/17/portable-benefits-gain-traction-in-alabama-and-arkansas/, (accessed October 21, 2025)

[vi] Liya Palagashvili, “Bringing Portable Benefits to Arkansas’s Independent Workforce: Overview” Mercatus Center at George Mason University”, August 20, 2025, https://www.mercatus.org/research/policy-spotlights/bringingportable-benefits-arkansass-independent-workforce-overview, (accessed October 21, 2025).

[vii] Ibid.

[viii] See Senate Bill 86, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[ix] Ibid

[x] Liya Palagashvili, “Bringing Portable Benefits to Arkansas’s Independent Workforce: Overview” Mercatus Center at George Mason University”, August 20, 2025, https://www.mercatus.org/research/policy-spotlights/bringingportable-benefits-arkansass-independent-workforce-overview, (accessed October 21, 2025).

[xi] See Senate Bill 86, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xii] Ibid.

[xiii] Ibid

[xiv] Ibid

[xv] Noah Lang, “New Law: Tennessee Becomes the Latest State to Embrace Portable Benefits for Independent Workers”, Stride Health, April 4, 2025, https://blog.stridehealth.com/post/tennessee-becomes-the-latest-state-toembrace-portable-benefits-for-independent-workers, (accessed October 21, 2025).

[xvi] Liya Palagashvili, “Bringing Portable Benefits to Arkansas’s Independent Workforce: Overview” Mercatus Center at George Mason University”, August 20, 2025, https://www.mercatus org/research/policy-spotlights/bringingportable-benefits-arkansass-independent-workforce-overview, (accessed October 21, 2025)

[xvii] See House Bill 1067, Florida Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xviii] Liya Palagashvili and Jonathan Wolfson, “Flexible and Portable Benefits for Independent Workers: State Policy Guide”, October 2024, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, https://www.mercatus.org/research/policy-briefs/flexible-and-portable-benefits-independent-workers-state-policyguide#, (accessed October 21, 2025)

[xix] Ibid

[xx] Ibid.

[xxi] Ibid.

Provide Tax Relief to All Alabamians

[i] See open.alabama.gov, State of Alabama Accounting and Resource System, “Comparative Summary of Revenues by Fund”, October 1, 2024

[ii Ibid

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Alabama Legislative Services Agency, “Fiscal Dashboard”, https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/fiscal-healthdashboard, (accessed October 29, 2025).

[v] Alabama Department of Revenue, “Individual Income Tax”, https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/taxtypes/individual-income-tax/

[vi] Ibid

[vii] Justin Bogie, “Lower taxes, better education are keys to attracting business to Alabama, not incentives”, Alabama Today, October 4, 2022, https://altoday.com/archives/47571-justin-bogie-lower-taxes-better-education-arekeys-to-attracting-business-to-alabama-not-incentives, (accessed December 18, 2023).

[viii] Alabama Department of Revenue, “Corporate Income Tax”, https://www.revenue.alabama.gov/taxtypes/corporate-income-tax/

[ix] Janelle Fritts, “State Corporate Income Tax Rates and Brackets for 2023”, Tax Foundation, January 24, 2023, https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/state-corporate-income-tax-rates-brackets-2023/, (accessed December 18, 2023).

[x] Justin Bogie, “Halfway through the legislative session, what have lawmakers done?”, Alabama Today, March 25, 2021, https://altoday.com/archives/39601-justin-bogie-halfway-through-the-legislative-session-what-have-lawmakersdone, (accessed December 18, 2023)

[xi] Alabama Legislative Services Agency Fiscal Division, “A Legislator’s Guide to Alabama’s Taxes”, March 2024, https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/lsa/Fiscal/TaxGuide/2024_Tax Guide.pdf.

[xii] See House Bill 73, Alabama Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[xiii] See House Bill 115, Alabama Legislature 2023 Regular Session.

[xiv] See House Bill 116, Alabama Legislature 2023 Regular Session.

[xv] See Senate Bill 249, Alabama Legislature 2020 Regular Session

[xvi] Joint Legislative Task Force on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, “Final Report”, February 18, 2020, https://www.bcatoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/JTF TCJA_final_Report.pdf.

[xvii] Ashley G. White, “Alabama to Phase out Minimum Business Privilege Tax Beginning in 2023”, BMSS Advisors and CPAs, June 15, 2022, https://www.bmss.com/alabama-to-phase-out-minimum-business-privilege-taxbeginning-in-2023/, (accessed December 18, 2023).

[xviii] See House Bill 391, Alabama Legislature 2022 Regular Session.

[xix] Alabama Legislative Services Agency Fiscal Division, “A Legislator’s Guide to Alabama’s Taxes”, March 2023, https://alison-file legislature state al us/pdfdocs/lsa/Fiscal/TaxGuide/2023_Tax_Guide.pdf

[xx] See House Bill 386, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

Reduce Future State Budget Growth

[i] See open.alabama.gov, State of Alabama Accounting and Resource System, “Comparative Summary of Revenues by Fund”, October 1, 2025

[ii] Ibid

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Alabama Legislative Services Agency, “Fiscal Dashboard”, https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/fiscal-healthdashboard, (accessed October 29, 2025).

[v] Alabama Legislative Services Agency, “Allocation of ETF Excess Funds”, November 4, 2024, https://alison legislature state al us/ETF-waterfall, (accessed December 4, 2024)

[vi] Justin Bogie, “As PEEHIP Faces Funding Shortfall, it is Time for Healthcare and Pension Reforms”, Alabama Policy Institute, September 10, 2025, https://alabamapolicy.org/2025/09/10/as-peehip-faces-funding-shortfall-it-istime-for-healthcare-and-pension-reforms/, (accessed October 29, 2025).

[vii] See Alabama Legislative Services Agency Fiscal Division, FY 2026ETF Budget Spreadsheet as Enacted.

[viii] Lauren Kallins, “5 Changes the ‘Beautiful’ Bill Is Bringing to SNAP”, National Conference of State Legislators, October 22, 2025, https://www ncsl org/state-legislatures-news/details/5-changes-the-beautiful-bill-is-bringing-tosnap, (accessed October 29, 2025)

[ix] Vance Ginn, “Sustainable State Budget Revolution Across the U.S.” Vance Ginn Economic Consulting, October 15, 2024, https://www.vanceginn.com/letpeopleprosper/responsible-state-budgets-across-the-us, (accessed December 16, 2024).

[x] API calculation based on data from the Alabama Legislative Services Agency. Protect Healthcare Freedom for All Alabamians

[i] All Sides, “Health Freedom,” https://www.allsides com/translator/health-freedom, (accessed December 26, 2023)

[ii] U.S. Department of Homeland Security, “Frequently Asked Question: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.”, Updated April 21, 2022, https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/frequently-asked-questions-guidance-travelers-enterus, (accessed December 26, 2023).

[iii] National Academy for State Health Policy, “Federal Vaccine Mandates and Legal Challenges”, January 4, 2022, https://nashp org/federal-vaccine-mandates-and-legal-challenges/, (accessed December 26, 2023)

[iv] See Senate Bill 9, Alabama Legislature 2021 Second Special Session.

[v] See Senate Bill 15, Alabama Legislature 2021 Second Special Session.

[vi] See Senate Bill 72, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session

[vii] See Senate Bill 43, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[viii] See Senate Bill 101, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[ix] See House Bill 79, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[x] See Senate Bill 85, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xi] See House Bill 158, Alabama Legislature 2024 Regular Session.

[xii] See House Bill 165, Alabama Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[xiii] See House Bill 324, Alabama Legislature 2023 Regular Session.

[xiv] See Senate Bill 1210, Idaho Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xv] Jeff Scott, “SB 252: An Act Relating to Protection from Discrimination Based on Health Care Choices”, Florida Medical Association, July 13, 2023, https://www.flmedical.org/florida/Florida Public/News/2023/What_physicians_need_to_know_about_SB_252.aspx, (accessed December 26, 2023)

Improve Regulatory Oversight and Increase Government Transparency

[i] Ballotpedia, “REINS-Style State Laws”, https://ballotpedia.org/REINS-style state laws, (accessed December 9, 2024).

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Carlos Martinez, “Who Signs Off on Major Rules? New Push in Congress Could Shift Power from Bureaucrats”, National Taxpayers Union Foundation, July 10, 2025, https://www ntu org/foundation/detail/who-signs-off-on-majorrules-new-push-in-congress-could-shift-power-from-bureaucrats, (accessed November 5, 2025).

[iv] Americans for Prosperity, “AFP-Alabama Disappointed Legislative Session Adjourned Without Final Passage of Judicial Deference Bill, Looks to Prioritize in 2026”, Press Release, May 15, 2025.

[v] Ibid.

[vi] See section 41-22-3, Code of Alabama

[vii] See Alabama Legislature, “Rulemaking under the Alabama Administrative Procedures Act”

[viii] Ibid

[ix] Ballotpedia, “REINS Act (Wisconsin), https://ballotpedia.org/REINS Act (Wisconsin), (accessed December 10, 2024).

[x] Ibid.

[xi] Ibid

[xii] Stephen Trainer, “Research Note: Florida’s REINS Act”, Platte Institute, June 24,2024, https://platteinstitute.org/research-note-floridas-reins-act/, (accessed December 10, 2024).

[xiii] Ballotpedia, “Kansas REINS-style state law”, https://ballotpedia.org/Kansas REINS-style_state law, (accessed December 10, 2024).

[xiv] Ballotpedia, “Indiana REINS=style state law”, https://ballotpedia.org/Indiana REINS-style state law, (accessed December 10, 2024)

[xv] See Senate Bill 1342, Oklahoma State Legislature, 2016 Regular Session.

[xvi] American Legislative Exchange Council, “Reforming How Federal Grants Are Provided to the State”, Model Legislation, September 18, 2018.

[xvii] Kevin Schmidt, “3 Model Policies to Boost State Transparency at the Start of Legislative Session”, Americans for Prosperity Foundation, January 21, 2025, https://americansforprosperityfoundation.org/blog/3-model-policies-toboost-state-transparency-at-the-start-of-legislative-sessions, (accessed November 6, 2025)

[xviii] Ibid

[xix] Ibid.

[xx] Giancarlo Canaparo and Caleb Sampson, “Chevron in the States: Where Is Deference Still in Effect, and How Can States Eliminate It?”, The Federalist Society, October 3, 2024, https://fedsoc.org/commentary/fedsocblog/chevron-in-the-states-where-is-deference-still-in-effect-and-how-can-states-eliminate-it, (accessed November 6, 2025)

[xxi] Ibid.

[xxii] Mercedes Yanora, “Three states end judicial deference practices”, Ballotpedia News, April 26, 2024, https://news.ballotpedia.org/2024/04/26/three-states-end-judicial-deference-practices-3/, (accessed November 6, 2024).

[xxiii] Aaron Sanderford, “Nebraska advances bill codifying legislative oversight role dealing with executive branch agencies”, News From The States, May 28, 2025, https://www newsfromthestates com/article/nebraska-advances-billcodifying-legislative-oversight-role-dealing-executive-branch, (accessed November 6, 2025).

[xxiv] Camille Walsh, “State Policy Network Releases Updated Federalism Scorecard”, State Policy Network, December 5, 2024, https://spn.org/2024-federalism-scorecard/, (accessed November 6, 2025).

[xxv] State Policy Network, “2025 Federalism Scorecard, https://static1 squarespace com/static/65844a371f665955bd815806/t/68ded9ebaabd6920e6fa15d7/1759435243538/20 25+CPF+Federalism+Scorecard pdf

[xxvi] Ibid.

[xxvii] Ibid.

[xxviii] Ibid.

[xxix] Caleb Taylor, “AFP-Alabama ‘disappointed’ judicial deference bill died in House in 2025 session”, 1819 News, May 19, 2025, https://1819news com/news/item/afp-alabama-disappointed-judicial-deference-bill-died-in-house-in2025-session, (accessed November 6, 2025)

[xxx] State Policy Network, “2025 Federalism Scorecard, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/65844a371f665955bd815806/t/68ded9ebaabd6920e6fa15d7/1759435243538/20 25+CPF+Federalism+Scorecard.pdf.

[xxxi] Ibid.

Require State and Local Government Entities to Livestream Meetings

[i] Michigan Public Policy Survey, “Internet presence among Michigan local governments: websites, online services, and experience with virtual meetings”May 2022, https://closup.umich.edu/michigan-public-policysurvey/100/internet-presence-among-michigan-local-governments-websites-online-services

[ii] See Title 36, Chapter 25A, Code of Alabama

[iii] GovTech, “Alabama Council Members Debate Use of Online City Meetings”, May 20th, 2020, https://www govtech com/policy/alabama-council-members-debate-use-of-online-city-meetings.html

[iv] See Title 36, Chapter 25A, Section 5.1, Code of Alabama

[v] See House Bill 1167, Indiana Legislature, 2023 Regular Session.

[vi] See Senate Bill 77, South Carolina Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[vii] See Assembly Bill No. 2449, California Legislature 2022

Resist any Expansion of Gambling and Increase Penalties for Illegal Gambling Activity

[i] John Hill, PhD, “State of Alabama Report on Gambling”, Alabama Policy Institute, December 2023, https://alabamapolicyorg/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gambling-Report-12-23.pdf

[ii] Ibid.

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] See Section 65, Alabama Constitution.

[v] See Section 13A-12-20, Code of Alabama.

[vi] FindLaw, “Alabama Gambling Laws”, June 20, 2016, https://www findlaw com/state/alabama-law/alabamagambling-laws html, (accessed December 28, 2023)

[vii] American Gaming Association, “Gaming Regulations and Statutory Requirements”, https://www.americangaming.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/AGAGamingRegulatoryFactSheet ClassIIGaming2.pdf, (accessed December 28, 2023).

[viii] See Chapter 11 Section 65, Code of Alabama.

[ix] Nick Beare, “Alabama Sports Betting- 2023 AL Sports Betting Update, Legal Sports Report, November 23, 3023, https://www legalsportsreport com/alabama/#:~:text=While%20horse%20racing%20is%20legal,also%20allowed%20 by%20state%20law., (accessed December 29, 2023).

[x] John Williams, “Horse Racing and Pari-Mutual Betting”, Minnesota House of Representatives, October 2002, https://www.house.mn.gov/hrd/pubs/ss/sshorse.pdf, (accessed December 28, 2023).

[xi] Tom Nightingale, “Alabama lawmaker wants to clarify illegal gambling, increase penalties”, SBC Americas, September 18, 2024, https://sbcamericas com/2024/09/18/alabama-hb41-gambling/, (accessed October 28, 2025)

[xii] Caleb Taylor, “House committee kills bill legalizing ‘historical horse racing’ gambling in Greene County”, 1819 News, April 24, 2025, https://1819news.com/news/item/house-committee-kills-bill-legalizing-historical-horse-racinggambling-in-greene-county, (accessed October 28, 2025).

[xiii] John Hill, PhD, “State of Alabama Report on Gambling”, Alabama Policy Institute, December 2023, https://alabamapolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Gambling-Report-12-23.pdf.

[xiv] Ibid

[xv] Ibid

[xvi] Ibid.

[xvii] Ibid.

[xviii] Ibid.

[xix] Ibid.

[xx] Ibid

[xxi] Ibid

[xxii] Ibid.

[xxiii] Ibid.

[xxiv] Ibid.

[xxv] Ibid.

[xxvi] Ibid

Provide Alabamians Access to Innovative Healthcare Treatment Options

[i] RightToTryorg, “Right to Try for Individualized Treatments”, https://righttotryorg/rtt2-0/, (accessed December 5, 2024)

[ii] Goldwater Institute, “Right to Try for Individualized Treatments (right to Try 2.0): Reform Is Needed Now”, https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/right-to-try-for-individualized-treatments-right-to-try-2-0/, (accessed December 5, 2024).

[iii] Ibid.

[iv] Ibid

[v] Brian Norman, “New Hampshire Becomes the 16th State to Expand Right to Try for Individualized Treatments”, Goldwater Institute, August 21, 2025, https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/new-hampshire-becomes-the-16th-state-toexpand-right-to-try-for-individualized-treatments, (accessed October 27, 2025).

[vi] Federal Drug Administration, “Right to Try”, January 23,2023, https://www.fda.gov/patients/learn-aboutexpanded-access-and-other-treatment-options/right-try.

[vii] See Senate Bill 299, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[viii] See Goldwater Institute, “The Right to Try for Individualized Treatments Act”, https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/RTT-2.0-Language.pdf.

[ix] Brian Norman, “New Hope for Rare Disease Patients: Georgia Lawmakers Advance Right to Try Expansion”, Goldwater Institute, February 24, 2025, https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/new-hope-for-rare-disease-patientsgeorgia-lawmakers-advance-right-to-try-expansion, (accessed October 27, 2025).

[x] Fiona Baum, “Colorado’s Next Summit: Expanding Medical Freedom with Right to Try 2.0”, Goldwater Institute, March 6, 2025, https://www goldwaterinstitute org/colorados-next-summit-expanding-medical-freedom-with-right-totry-2-0, (accessed October 27, 2025).

[xi] See Senate Bill 2858, Mississippi Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[xii] See House Bill 899, Louisiana Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

Allow for Alternative Accreditation Options at Alabama’s Colleges and Universities

[i] History and Context of Accreditation in the United States | U S Department of Education

[ii] 2012PrinciplesOfAccreditation1st.pdf

[iii] Overview of Accreditation in the United States | U.S. Department of Education

[iv] Id.

[v] free speech committee report final.pdf

[vi] Accreditation, Tenure, and Transparency: Innovative Higher Education Policies from Florida’s 2022 Legislative Session | Cicero Institute

[vii] How the US Department of Education Can Fix Damaging Accreditation Regulations - Center for American Progress

[viii] Definitions-of-Distance-Education-March-2023-Report-1.pdf

[ix] Standards for Accreditation and Requirements of Affiliation | Fourteenth Edition - Middle States Commission on Higher Education

[x] FSA Enforcement Bulletin, August 2023 – Following an Enforcement Investigation, Federal Student Aid Reminds Schools to Ensure Programs are Properly Accredited Before Disbursing Funds | Knowledge Center

[xi] Chapter 1008 Section 47 - 2022 Florida Statutes - The Florida Senate

[xii] Id.

[xiii] Id.

[xiv] Bill Text: IA HF295 | 2025-2026 | 91st General Assembly | Enrolled | LegiScan

[xv] Id

Remove Barriers to Opening New Microschools

[i] Microschools are growing in popularity, but state regulations haven’t caught up • Nebraska Examiner

[ii] Microschooling: A Modern Movement for Educational Freedom

[iii] Id.

[iv] Are Microschools Perfect? Exploring Potential Weaknesses and Challenges

[v] Utah’s New Microschool Law: a Model for Other States | The Well News | Pragmatic, Governance, Fiscally Responsible, News & Analysis

[vi] Microschools are growing in popularity, but state regulations haven't caught up • Stateline

[vii] Id.

[viii] Id.

[ix] Utah’s New Microschool Law: a Model for Other States - Libertas Institute

[x] Ala Admin Code r 290-2-2- 04 - School Site Requirements | State Regulations | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

[xi] TUS-meetings-parking-fences-lighting Oct2022.pdf

[xii] 15327602 zba-23-25-packet.pdf

[xiii] PDF.pdf

[xiv] Zoning Relief for Florida Private Schools - yes every kid. foundation

[xv] HB2461 - 532R - Senate Fact Sheet

[xvi] Arizona Revised Statutes

[xvii] 1% Cap Justification per District School Year 2023-2024.pdf

[xviii] HB550

[xix] Nonpublic Schools Not Seeking State Approval

Strengthen Alabamians Fourth Amendment Privacy Protections

[i] TPR Staff, “Decision on Geofence Warrants: A Critical Blow to Mass Surveillance,” Texas Policy Research (Aug. 20, 2024), https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/decision-on-geofence-warrants-a-critical-blow-to-mass-surveillance/ [ii] Leslie Corbly, “Geofence ‘Warrants’: An Unconstitutional Abuse of Technology,” Libertas Institute (Aug. 4, 2022), https://libertas.institute/privacy/geofence-warrants-an-unconstitutional-abuse-of-technology/

[iii] Navdeep Kaur Bal, “The Constitutionality of Geofence Warrants”, Berkley Journal of Criminal Law, January 18, 2024, https://www bjcl org/blog/the-constitutionality-of-geofence-warrants

[iv] TPR Staff, “Decision on Geofence Warrants: A Critical Blow to Mass Surveillance,” Texas Policy Research (Aug. 20, 2024), https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/decision-on-geofence-warrants-a-critical-blow-to-masssurveillance/

[v] Navdeep Kaur Bal, “The Constitutionality of Geofence Warrants”, Berkley Journal of Criminal Law, January 18, 2024, https://www bjcl org/blog/the-constitutionality-of-geofence-warrants

[vi] David Iglesias, “Geofence Warrants: The Modern-Day General Warrant,” Libertas Institute (Op-ed, Sept. 10, 2024), https://libertas.institute/op-eds/geofence-warrants-the-modern-day-general-warrant/ [vii] Ibid.

[viii] TPR Staff, “Decision on Geofence Warrants: A Critical Blow to Mass Surveillance,” Texas Policy Research (Aug. 20, 2024), https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/decision-on-geofence-warrants-a-critical-blow-to-masssurveillance/

[ix] Navdeep Kaur Bal, “The Constitutionality of Geofence Warrants”, Berkley Journal of Criminal Law, January 18, 2024, https://www.bjcl.org/blog/the-constitutionality-of-geofence-warrants [x] Ibid.

[xi] David Iglesias, “Geofence Warrants: The Modern-Day General Warrant,” Libertas Institute (Op-ed, Sept. 10, 2024), https://libertas.institute/op-eds/geofence-warrants-the-modern-day-general-warrant/ [xii] Ibid

[xiii] See Senate Bill 404, New York State Senate, 2025-2026 Session.

[xiv] Congressional Research Service, “Geofence Warrants and the Fourth Amendment”, Legal Sidebar, May 9, 2025, https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/LSB11274

Reform the Governance of the Alabama High School Athletics Association i Alabama Governor’s Office “Governor Ivey and Speaker Ledbetter Secure Temporary Restraining Order Blocking ii AHSAA’s Rule on CHOOSE Act Student Transfers ” September 5, 2025 https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2025/09/governor-ivey-and-speaker-ledbetter-secure-temporary-restrainingorder-blocking-ahsaas-rule-on-choose-act-student-transfers/.

iii. Alabama Policy Institute. “API to AHSAA: Don’t Sideline School Choice Families – Follow the Law!” September 1, 2025. https://alabamapolicy.org/2025/09/01/api-to-ahsaa-stop-penalizing-school-choice-students-and-follow-thelaw/

iv Ala Code § 16-6J-3(i) (2024)

v. Kay Ivey, in her official capacity as Governor of the State of Alabama, and Nathaniel Ledbetter, in his official capacity as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives v. Alabama High School Athletic Association. vi. vi. vi. Complaint, Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, CV-2025-900570. Filed September 4, 2025. vii. Shelley, Jonathan. “Judge blocks rule sidelining Alabama student-athletes over CHOOSE Act funds.” CBS 42/Trussville Tribune, September 5, 2025. https://www.cbs42 com/trussville-tribune/alabama-gov-kay-ivey-sueahsaa-over-choose-act-eligibility-rule/.

viii. Various internal documents and policy summaries from the Alabama Policy Institute and AHSAA stakeholder meetings, 2024-2025 (on file with the author).

Various internal documents and policy summaries from the Alabama Policy Institute and AHSAA stakeholder meetings, 2024-2025 (on file with the author).

ix Ala Code § 16-6J-3(i) (2024)

x. Kay Ivey, in her official capacity as Governor of the State of Alabama, and Nathaniel Ledbetter, in his official capacity as Speaker of the Alabama House of Representatives v. Alabama High School Athletic Association, xi. Complaint, Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, CV-2025-900570, filed September 4, 2025.

xii. Alabama Governor’s Office, “Governor Ivey and Speaker Ledbetter Secure Temporary Restraining Order Blocking AHSAA’s Rule on CHOOSE Act Student Transfers,” September 5, 2025.

xiii Alabama Policy Institute, “API to AHSAA: Don’t Sideline School Choice Families – Follow the Law!,” September 1, 2025.

xiv. Jonathan Shelley, “Judge blocks rule sidelining Alabama student-athletes over CHOOSE Act funds,” CBS 42/Trussville Tribune, September 5, 2025.

Restrict the Flow of Abortion Inducing Drugs into Alabama

[i] Howard Koplowitz, “Federal judge lifts injunction on Alabama’s 2019 abortion ban after Roe v Wade Overturned”, AL.com, June 24, 2022, https://www.al.com/politics/2022/06/federal-judge-lifts-injunction-on-alabamas-2019-abortionban-after-roe-v-wade-overturned.html, (accessed (November 9, 2023).

[ii] See Section 26-23H-4 Code of Alabama.

[iii] See Section 26-23H-7 Code of Alabama.

[iv] U S Department of Justice, “Application of the Comstock Act to the Mailing of Prescription Drugs That Can Be Used for Abortion”, December 23, 2022, https://www justice gov/media/1266941/dl?inline=

[v] PBS New, “8,000 women a month got abortion pills despite their states’ bans or restrictions, survey finds”, May 14, 2024,https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/8000-women-a-month-got-abortion-pills-despite-their-states-bans-orrestrictions-survey-finds, (accessed November 27, 2024).

[vi] Society of Family Planning, “WeCount report, April 2022 to December 2024”, June 23, 2025, https://societyfp org/research/wecount/wecount-december-2024-data/, (accessed October 15, 2025)

[vii] Amy Yurkanin, “Women can be prosecuted for taking abortion pills, says Alabama attorney general”, AL.com, January 10, 2023, https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/women-can-be-prosecuted-for-taking-abortion-pills-says-alabamaattorney-general.html, (accessed November 9, 2023).

[viii] Allison McCann, “Inside the Online Market for Overseas Abortion Pills”, New York Times, April 14, 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2023/04/13/us/abortion-pill-order-online-mifepristone.html, (accessed November 29, 2023)

[ix] Chantelle Lee, “How the Biden Administration Protected Abortion Pill Access-and What Trump Could Do Next”, Time Magazine, November 20, 2024, https://time.com/7177933/biden-trump-abortion-pill-mifepristone-access/, (accessed November 27, 2024).

[x] Meg Tirrell, “Federal agencies are studying safety of abortion drug mifepristone, driving new concerns about limits on access”, CNN, October 13, 2025, https://www cnn com/2025/09/25/health/mifepristone-review-fda-hhsabortion, (accessed October 15, 2025)

[xi] Aria Bendix and Sahil Kapur, “FDA quietly approved a generic abortion pill ahead of shutdown”, NBC News, October 3, 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/fda-approves-generic-abortion-pill-mifepristonercna235265, (accessed October 15, 2025).

[xii] Scott Yoshonis, “Louisiana suing federal government over abortion drugs by mail”, KLFY News, October 14, 2025, https://www klfycom/louisiana/louisiana-suing-federal-government-over-abortion-drugs-by-mail/, (accessed October 15, 2025)

[xiii] Jennifer Shutt, “An 1873 law banned the mailing of boxing photos. Could it block abortion pills too?”, New From the States, April 4, 2024, https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/1873-law-banned-mailing-boxing-photoscould-it-block-abortion-pills-too, (accessed November 27, 2024).

Strengthen Internet Protections for Alabama’s Children

[i] Securityorg, “Parents Want Stricter Legislation to Protect Kids on Social Media”, June 27, 2023, https://www.security.org/digital-safety/parents-react-to-social-media-legislation/, (accessed December 21, 2023).

[ii] See Section 13A-12, Code of Alabama.

[iii] See Senate Bill 186, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[iv] See Senate Bill 187, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[v] See House Bill 164, Alabama Legislature, 2024 Regular Session

[vi] Federal Communication Commission, “Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/childrens-internet-protection-act, (accessed December 21, 2023).

[vii] Federal Communications Commission, “Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule (‘COPPA’), https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/rules/childrens-online-privacy-protection-rule-coppa, (accessed December 21, 2023).

[viii] See Section 47-18-5703, Tennessee Code

[ix] See House Bill 3, Florida Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[x] See Section 51:1752, Louisiana Laws.

[xi] Adam Candeub, Clare Morell, and Michael Toscano, “Model Legislation for Age Verification of Social Media”, Ethics and Public Policy Center, October 17, 2023, https://eppc.org/publication/protecting-kids-online-modellegislation/.

[xii] Ibid

[xiii] Ibid

[xiv] Cooley, “AI Chatbots at the Crossroads: Navigating New Laws and Compliance Risks”, Cooley Alert, October 21, 2025, https://www.cooley.com/news/insight/2025/2025-10-21-ai-chatbots-at-the-crossroads-navigating-new-lawsand-compliance-risks, (accessed November 5, 2025).

[xv] Ibid.

[xvi] Ibid

Allow Volunteer Chaplains to Provide Services in Alabama’s K-12 Public Schools

[i] Advent Health University, “Chaplain vs Pastor: What is the Difference?”, April 7, 2021, https://www ahu edu/blog/chaplain-vs-pastor, (accessed December 21, 2023)

[ii] David Montgomery, “New Texas law allowing chaplains in public schools could be a model for other states”, Stateline, June 21, 2023, https://stateline.org/2023/06/21/new-texas-law-allowing-chaplains-in-public-schools-couldbe-a-model-for-other-states/, (accessed December 21, 2023).

[iii] Naaz Modan, “Bills allowing chaplains in public schools gain steam”, K-12 Dive, August 26, 2024, https://www k12dive com/news/school-chaplain-bills-2023-2024-louisiana-texas-florida/725166/, (accessed December 2, 2024)

[iv] See United States Constitution, First Amendment.

[v] National School Counselors Association, “School chaplaincy’s legal precedent”, https://www.nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/employingchaplainslegalities, (accessed December 21, 2023).

[vi] Ibid.

[vii] See Senate Bill 763, Texas Legislature 2023 Regular Session

viii] National School Chaplains Association, “School Benefits”, https://www.nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/school-benefits, (accessed December 21, 2023).

[ix] Ibid.

[x] Ibid.

[xi] See Senate Bill 294, Alabama Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[xii] See House Bill 179, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[xiii] Ed Tarnowski, “What Are Microschools?”, EdChoice, September 12, 2022, https://www.edchoice.org/microschools-what-are-they-what-do-they-cost-and-whos-interested, (accessed November 13, 2025).

[xiv] Christian Leaders Alliance, “Developing MicroSchools Course”, https://www.christianleadersalliance.org/developing-microschools/.

Promote and Improve Civics Education in K-12 Public Schools

[i] See Senate Bill 32, Alabama Legislature, 2017 Regular Session.

[ii] Christine Fairbanks, “Sutherland Institute supports Utah’s new high school civics bill”, Sutherland Institute, March 3, 2025, https://sutherlandinstitute.org/sutherland-institute-supports-utahs-new-high-school-civics-bill/, (accessed October 15, 2025).

[iii] Louisiana Department of Education, “Louisiana Adopts New Diploma Endorsement to Recognize Excellence in Civics Education”, Press Release, April 9, 2025, https://doe.louisiana gov/about/newsroom/newsreleases/release/2025/04/09/louisiana-adopts-new-diploma-endorsement-to-recognize-excellence-in-civics-education.

[iv] See House Bill 587, Iowa Legislature, 2024 Regular Session.

[v] Florida Department of Education, “Civics Literacy Excellence Initiative”, https://www.fldoe.org/academics/standards/subject-areas/social-studies/civics-lei.stml.

[vi] Ibid

[vii] See House Bill 4025, Illinois General Assembly, 99 Session, 2015 th

[viii] See Senate Bill 8, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[ix] Ibid.

[x] Ibid.

Hold Sexual Predators Accountable and Increase Penalties for Crimes Against Minors

[i] National Children’s Alliance, “NCA Statistics- NCA National Statistics Report 2023, https://www nationalchildrensalliance org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Alabama-Annual-2023.pdf, (accessed December 6, 2024).

[ii] See Section 6-2-8, Code of Alabama.

[iii] See Section 15-20A-5, Code of Alabama.

[iv] See Section-13a-5-40, Code of Alabama.

[v] See Section 13A-5-49, Code of Alabama

[vi] See Section 13A-6-61, Code of Alabama

[vii] See Section 13A-6-63, Code of Alabama.

[viii] See Section 13A-6-65.1, Code of Alabama.

[ix] See Section 13A-5-6, Code of Alabama.

[x] National Conference of State Legislators, “Child Sexual Abuse: Civil Statutes of Limitations”, November 29,2023, https://www ncsl org/human-services/state-civil-statutes-of-limitations-in-child-sexual-abuse-cases, (accessed December 16, 2024)

[xi] Staff Report, “Florida prosecutor announces first death penalty case under new child rape law”, Tallahassee Democrat, December 15, 2023, https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/local/state/2023/12/15/florida-man-firstdeath-penalty-indicted-child-rape-test-case-new-law/71930977007/, (accessed December 16, 2024).

[xii] See Senate Bill 1804, Florida General Assembly, 2025 Regular Session.

[xiii] See House Bill 1455, Florida General Assembly, 2025 Regular Session.

[xiv] See Senate Bill 1834, Tennessee General Assembly, 2024 Regular Session.

[xv] See Seante Bill 1870, Tennessee General Assembly, 2025 Regular Session.

[xvi] See Senate Bill 375, Arkansas Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

xvii] Jemma Stephenson, “Bill would extend Alabama’s statute of limitations for child abuse litigation”, Alabama Reflector, December 9, 2024, https://alabamareflector.com/2024/12/09/bill-would-extend-alabamas-statute-oflimitations-for-child-abuselitigation/#:~:text=SB%2021%2C%20sponsored%20by%20Sen,birthday%20to%20their%2055th%20birthday, (accessed December 16, 2024).

[xviii] See Senate Bill 21, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Legislative Session.

[xix] Child USA, “Delayed Disclosure: Child USA 2024 Fact Sheet”, https://childusa.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/06/Delayed-Disclosure-2024.pdf, (accessed December 16, 2024).

[xx] See House Bill 49, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session [xxi] Ibid

[xxii] Asher Redd, “Alabama lawmaker aims to put child rapists up for the death penalty”, WKRG News, December 11, 2024, https://www.wkrg.com/alabama-news/alabama-lawmaker-aims-to-put-child-rapists-up-for-the-deathpenalty/, (accessed December 16, 2024).

[xxiii] Alander Rocha, “Alabama lawmakers want to impose death penalty on child rapists, challenging precedent”, Alabama Reflector, August 1, 2025, https://alabamareflector com/2025/08/01/alabama-lawmakers-want-to-imposedeath-penalty-on-child-rapists-challenging-precedent/, (accessed October 29, 2025)

Prevent Medically Assisted Suicide from Occurring in Alabama

i FAQs on Physician-Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia - Aging with Dignity

ii Medical assistance in dying: Legislation in Canada - Canada ca

iii. Death with Dignity U.S. Legislative Status State Map

iv. About Death with Dignity: Advocating for End-of-Life Options

v. Death with Dignity U.S. Legislative Status State Map

vi. Government Bill House of Commons C-14 (42-1) - Royal Assent - An Act to amend the Criminal Code and to make related amendments to other Acts medical assistance in dying - Parliament of Canada

vii Government Bill (House of Commons) C-7 (43-2) - Royal Assent - An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying) - Parliament of Canada.

viii.Bill C-62 441 An Act to amend An Act to amend the Criminal Code (medical assistance in dying), No. 2 | Projet de loi C-62 441 Loi no 2 modifiant la Loi modifiant le Code criminel (aide médicale à mourir).

ix.The Government of Canada introduces legislation to delay Medical Assistance in Dying expansion by 3 yearsCanada ca

x Fifth Annual Report on Medical Assistance in Dying in Canada, 2023 - Canada ca

xi. https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=22-8B-4

xii. Alabama Code § 13A-5-6 (2024) - Sentences of Imprisonment for Felonies. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

xiii. https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/code-of-alabama?section=22-8B-6

xiv NY State Senate Bill 2025-S138

xv Tennessee Euthanasia Laws - FindLaw

xvi. HB1710.pdf

xvii. TN HB1710 | 2023-2024 | 113th General Assembly | LegiScan

xviii. Oregon Health Authority : Frequently Asked Questions : Death with Dignity Act : State of Oregon

xix. 2024 Oregon Death with Dignity Act Data Summary

xx Alabama Code § 13A-5-6 (2024) - Sentences of Imprisonment for Felonies :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S Codes and Statutes :: U S Law :: Justia

Ban Non-Medical Psychoactive THC Products from Being Sold in Alabama

[i] STATUTE-132-Pg4490.pdf

[ii] Delta-8-THC craze concerns chemists

[iii] https://www politico com/live-updates/2025/11/10/congress/senators-reject-pauls-hemp-plans-00646064Alabama

Doctors Warn Public of ‘Gas Station’ Drugs at Birmingham Substance Abuse Conference | Alabama Board of Medical Examiners & Medical Licensure Commission

[iv] Legalizing Youth-Friendly Cannabis Edibles and Extracts and Adolescent Cannabis Use | Health Policy | JAMA Network Open | JAMA Network

[v] Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences

[vi] HB445-enr pdf

[vii] Safety with edibles | Cannabis

[viii] Is Delta-8 Legal in Colorado? | ColoradoCannabis.org

ix] Florida Amendment 3 explained: Adult personal use of marijuana

[x] Florida Amendment 3 results 2024 | CNN Politics

[xi] Hemp products law passes Florida legislature: What are Delta 8 and CBD?

[xii] Gov. DeSantis kills hemp bill, keeps Delta 8 and related compounds legal

[xiii] DeSantis vetoes hemp bill that would have restricted delta-8, delta 9 THC | Health News Florida

[xiv] Retail Rules and Regulations

[xv] SB1-int.pdf

Promote the Lessons of the Ten Commandments in Alabama’s K-12 Public Schools

[i] Brandon Moseley, “All four statewide amendments approved by voters”, Alabama Political Reporter, November 9, 2018, https://www alreporter com/2018/11/09/all-four-statewide-amendments-approved-by-voters/, (accessed November 13, 2025)

[ii] See Senate Bill 181, Alabama Legislature, 2018 Regular Session.

[iii] Sabrina Canfield, “Fifth Circuit deems Louisiana Ten Commandments law unconstitutional”, Courthouse News Service, June 20, 2025, https://www.courthousenews.com/fifth-circuit-deems-louisiana-ten-commandments-lawunconstitutional/, (accessed November 13, 2025).

[iv] Antoinette Grajeda, “Court blocks new Arkansas law requiring Ten Commandments in classrooms”, Arkansas Advocate, August 4, 2025, https://arkansasadvocate com/2025/08/04/court-blocks-new-arkansas-law-requiring-tencommandments-in-classrooms/, (accessed November 13, 2025).

[v] See Senate Bill 10, Texas Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

[vi] See Senate Bill 166, Alabama Legislature, 2025 Regular Session.

Provide a Consistent Statewide Framework for K-12 Religious Release Time

[i] Released Time | The First Amendment Encyclopedia

[ii] ZORACH et al. v. CLAUSON et al. | Supreme Court | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

[iii] Oklahoma joins states with 'release time' laws letting kids leave school for religious lessons • Oklahoma Voice

[iv] LifeWise-ImpactReport-2024.pdf

[v] Alabama Code § 16-1-20.6 (2024) - Released Time for Student Participation in Religious Instruction. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U S Codes and Statutes :: U S Law :: Justia

[vi] ZORACH et al v CLAUSON et al | Supreme Court | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

[vii] McCollum v. Board of Education | 333 U.S. 203 (1948) | Justia U.S. Supreme Court Center

[viii] Alabama Code § 16-1-20.6 (2024) - Released Time for Student Participation in Religious Instruction. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

[ix] Id.

[x] Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

[xi] Fla Admin Code Ann R 6A-1 09514 - Excused Absences for Religious Instruction or Holiday | State Regulations | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

[xii] Tennessee Code § 49-2-130 (2024) - Policy excusing student to attend released time course in religious moral instruction authorized - Requirements - Liability - Credit :: 2024 Tennessee Code :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

[xiii] Id

[xiv] Id

[xv] Id.

[xvi] R277-610. Released-Time Classes and Public Schools

[xvii] Id.

[xviii] Id.

Require Colleges and Universities to Accept the Classic Learning Test, Allow CLT to Satisfy the Pathway for Graduation, and Revise the Term “Advanced Placement” for More Neutral Terms

i. Gary L. Welton, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance (Grove City College, October 2025), 1–2.

ii "Top Education System in the Nation Expands Admission Exam Options With Classic Learning Test," State University System of Florida, September 8, 2023.

iii. Welton, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance, 1.

iv. Welton, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance, 5. The corrected correlation for the CLT was 0.58, compared to the SAT's reported corrected correlation of 0.53.

v. “GCC study finds predictive value in Classic Learning Test,” Grove City College, October 27, 2025.

vi Welton, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance, 4

vii Classic Learning Test, "Research & Reports," accessed November 16, 2025.

viii. "Alabama High School Graduation Requirements - Clarified April 2022," Scribd, accessed November 16, 2025.

ix. "MPS: Division of College & Career Readiness - ALSDE Graduation Requirements," Montgomery Public Schools, accessed November 16, 2025.

x. "Graduation Requirements - Option A - Traditional," Madison City Schools, accessed November 16, 2025.

xi "Top Education System in the Nation Expands Admission Exam Options With Classic Learning Test," State University System of Florida, September 8, 2023.

xii. Classic Learning Test, "Partner Colleges," accessed November 16, 2025.

xiii. The Alabama State Board of Education amended the Alabama Administrative Code, Rule No. 290-3-1.02 to include the CCR Indicator, which allows for "additional" approved indicators.

xiv. Caden DeLisa, "Florida Board of Education adopts Classic Learning Test as college readiness assessment," The Capitolist, July 19, 2023

xv Classic Learning Test, "CLT vs ACT® - Comparing the College Entrance Exams." (Note: The CLT-ACT concordance relationship is derived from the CLT-SAT concordance and the official SAT-ACT concordance).

xvi. "Florida Approved Classic Learning Test," The Trinity Voice, December 7, 2023.

xvii. "High School Graduation Requirements," Alabama Connections Academy, accessed November 16, 2025.

Classic Learning Test, "CLT vs. ACT® - Comparing the College Entrance Exams."

xviii Welton, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance, 2.

xix "Alabama High School Graduation Requirements," Autauga County Schools, accessed November 16, 2025.

xx. "College and Career Readiness - New Hope High School," Madison County Schools, accessed November 16, 2025.

xxi. "High School Graduation Requirements," Alabama Connections Academy, accessed November 16, 2025.

xxii. Welton, Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a Predictor of Student Performance, 2.

xxiii. "Graduation Requirements - Option A - Traditional," Madison City Schools, accessed November 16, 2025.

Increase Transparency in the Review of Copywritten Educational Materials

[i] Alabama Textbook Adoption and Procurement - Alabama State Department of Education

[ii] COMM RFB CTE-2023-Bid-Packet V1.0.pdf

[iii] Alabama Code Title 16, Chapter 36, Article 3 (2024) - Textbooks for Public Schools; State and Local Textbook Committees. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

[iv] How does Alabama choose textbooks? Slowly | Alabama Reflector

[v] SBOE 20240104

Alabama-State-Textbook-Adoption-Process-for-CTE-2023 V1.0.pdf

[vi] TAP 20251010 Library-Sites-for-Public-Review-of-Textbooks-2025-2026 V1.0.pdf

[vii] Public invited to review Alabama K-12 social studies, arts textbooks ahead of Nov. board vote - Alabama Daily News

[viii]Alabama Code Title 16, Chapter 36, Article 3 (2024) - Textbooks for Public Schools; State and Local Textbook Committees. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

[ix] SBOE 20240104 Alabama-State-Textbook-Adoption-Process-for-CTE-2023 V1.0.pdf

[x] COMM RFB CTE-2023-Bid-Packet V1.0 pdf

[xi] SBOE 20240104 Alabama-State-Textbook-Adoption-Process-for-CTE-2023 V1.0.pdf

[xii] Alabama Code § 16-36-60 (2024) - State Textbook Committee. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

[xiii] Id.

[xiv] English-Langauge-Arts-and-Career-and-Technical-Education-2021-2022-Bid-Packet pdf

[xv] Career and Technical Education State Board Powerpoint April 2021 Final Copy LM approved.pdf

[xvi] Id.

[xvii]Instructional Materials Review and Approval (IMRA) | State Board of Education

[xviii]Public Comment Period Open for Review of 2025 Instructional Materials Under Consideration | State Board of Education

[xix] PoliciesandProceduresSpecifications-FINAL.pdf

[xx] Instructional Materials Adoption Process

[xxi] Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

Protect Female Spaces for Girls and Women in Prisons and Other Settings

[i] Young girl is raped in school bathroom by transgender peer

[ii] On policies restricting trans people, Americans have become more supportive | Pew Research Center

[iii] Bill Text: AL HB322 | 2022 | Regular Session | Enrolled | LegiScan

[iv] Alabama Code § 16-1-54 (2024) - Multiple Occupancy Restrooms or Changing Areas Designated for Student Use to Be Used by Individuals Based on Their Biological Sex. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U.S. Law :: Justia

[v] Id.

[vi] Id

[vii] ‘Trans’ Biological Male Once Housed In Women’s Prison Ordered To Stand Trial For Rape, Witness Intimidation | The Daily Caller

[viii]SB129-enr.pdf

[ix] Alabama Code § 16-1-54 (2024) - Multiple Occupancy Restrooms or Changing Areas Designated for Student Use to Be Used by Individuals Based on Their Biological Sex. :: 2024 Code of Alabama :: U.S. Codes and Statutes :: U S Law :: Justia

[x] Id.

[xi] Id.

[xii] SB129-enr.pdf

[xiii] Id.

[xiv] Statutes & Constitution :View Statutes : Online Sunshine

[xv] Id

[xvi] Id

[xvii] Id.

[xviii]Bill Text: TX SB8 | 2025 | 89th Legislature 2nd Special Session | Enrolled | LegiScan

[xix] Id.

[xx] Id.