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HB 75ALABAMASession 2026rsState BillBecame law
Enacted

Alabama excuses high school students from class for signing college, apprenticeship, and military commitments

Original title: Public high schools; students excused from class for scholarship acceptance, college commitment, military enlistment

Last action · April 17, 2026: EnactedSponsor: Chad Robertson

Bill progressHistory & official text ↓
Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Law

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What This Bill Does

Public high schools in Alabama are required to excuse students from class for participating in activities when signing athletic scholarships, postsecondary educational commitments, apprenticeship agreements, or military enlistments, effective October 1, 2026.

Why it matters

Changes daily attendance rules for high school seniors and participating attendees across every public school district in the state, establishing a formal right to leave instructional time for ceremonial commitment events.

Who It Affects

Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.

Directly affected

Public high school students

Students signing qualifying scholarships, college commitments, apprenticeships, or military enlistments gain the right to be excused from class without academic penalty for the ceremony.

Directly affected

School principals

Principals must provide meeting spaces with internet and seating and gain the discretion to excuse additional students to attend ceremonies.

Directly affected

Local boards of education

Boards retain the authority to set policies governing guest attendance at the signing ceremonies.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which students qualify to be excused from class under this law?
Students who sign commitment letters during activities for athletic scholarships, postsecondary education or university commitments, apprenticeship programs, or military enlistments qualify to be excused.
What facilities must schools provide for signing ceremonies?
Schools must provide meeting space with internet connectivity and seating that does not interfere with ongoing instruction.
Can family members and other guests attend these events?
Yes, guests may attend subject to local board of education policy, and school principals are authorized to excuse other students to attend.

What else do you want to know?

News Coverage

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Where This Stands

Current status: Became law.

Procedural history

24 actions
  1. Apr 17, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Enacted
  2. Apr 8, 2026HouseEnrolled
    Delivered to Governor
  3. Apr 8, 2026Senate
    Signature Requested
  4. Apr 7, 2026House
    Enrolled
  5. Apr 7, 2026House
    Ready to Enroll
  6. Apr 7, 2026House
    Robertson Motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1255
Show 18 earlier actions
  1. Apr 7, 2026SenateFloor
    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1212
  2. Apr 7, 2026Senate
    Kelley motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1211
  3. Apr 7, 2026Senate
    Education Policy 1st Amendment Offered
  4. Apr 7, 2026Senate
    Third Reading in Second House
  5. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
  6. Mar 11, 2026SenateCommittee
    Reported Out of Committee Second House
  7. Mar 11, 2026Senate
    Education Policy 1st Amendment
  8. Mar 3, 2026SenateCommittee
    Pending Committee Action in Second House
  9. Mar 3, 2026SenateIntroduced
    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy
  10. Mar 3, 2026House
    Engrossed
  11. Mar 3, 2026HouseFloor
    Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 702
  12. Mar 3, 2026House
    Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 701
  13. Mar 3, 2026House
    Collins 1st Substitute Offered
  14. Mar 3, 2026House
    Third Reading in House of Origin
  15. Feb 25, 2026House
    Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
  16. Feb 25, 2026HouseCommittee
    Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
  17. Jan 13, 2026HouseCommittee
    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
  18. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

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Lobbying Activity

No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.

Full breakdown

Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.

Sponsors

Chad RobertsonHouse · District 40RepublicanPrimary sponsor

Connected Entities

Chad Robertson, John Treadwell, National Signing Day
PersonChad Robertson“Representative who sponsored HB 75”Map →
PersonJohn Treadwell“Clerk of the House of Representatives”Map →
otherNational Signing Day“Organized signing activities for scholarships and enlistments”Map →

Sources

Open source document

alison.legislature.state.al.us

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy5
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz25
    Current news / social attention level

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