Bills affecting Student / education borrower in Alabama — 2026 session

Higher education, College and Higher Education Excellence and Results (CHEER) Act established, bonus funding for eligible institutions authorized based on achievement of performance goals and objectives

Public K-12 education; Accountability Council created; Alabama Workforce Development Board, State Department of Education, and Alabama Commission on Higher Education to develop system to analyze student performance data

Division of Construction Management; capital improvement projects valued less than $750,000 at covered K-12 and higher education institutions exempted from division inspections and recommendations

Public institutions of higher education; authorized to accept the Classic Learning Test to the same extent as the American College Test and the Scholastic Aptitude Test

Higher education, to require public colleges and universities to submit annual report on the amount of state and federal funds received and expended, and plans for operating if federal or state funding reduced

Volunteer Rescue Squad Tuition Reimbursement Program; to permit EMS regional agencies to participate in education instruction

Higher education, Educator Preparation Provider Report Card requirements established, annual review and publication by the State Department of Education required; funds allocated

Ethics, Certain research and development activities of public institutions of higher education not covered by ethics laws

Public institutions of higher education; faculty senates limited to advisory role, tenure policy required, review and dismissal of tenured faculty authorized, governing board authority over courses and curriculum provided

Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program (AMSTEP), renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama (LASEA) Program; providing loan assistance in acute educator shortage programs as determined by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education in consultation with the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services

Alabama Commission on Higher Education, ReEngage Alabama Grant Program, minimum age of adult learner decreased, eligibility requirements revised

Military; graduate medical field courses added to educational benefits provided to eligible dependents of certain veterans, tuition cost limited

Public institutions of higher education; accreditation standards further provided for; adverse actions taken by accrediting agencies against public institutions of higher education for compliance with state law, prohibited; civil actions against accrediting agencies for violations, authorized

Health care; allied health professionals, training; tuition grants and loan forgiveness; Rural Allied Health Professional Workforce Expansion Act and Rural Clinical Training Partnership Fund created

College tuition; establishing a scholarship program for the dependents of law enforcement officers.

Vaccines; religious exemption for K-12 students further provided for, religious exemption for students at public institutions of higher education provided

Alabama G.I. Dependent Scholarship Program, veterans, dependents, tuition assistance, disability requirements revised