Alabama Lawmakers Approve Education Bills on Final Day of Session

Measures include weekly national anthem performances, Ten Commandments displays, and CHOOSE Act athletic protections

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:36pm

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A bold, colorful silkscreen-style illustration featuring a repeated American flag icon in a grid pattern, conveying the patriotic themes of the education bills passed in Alabama.The Alabama legislature's passage of bills mandating weekly national anthem performances and Ten Commandments displays in public schools reflects an ongoing debate over the role of patriotism and religion in education.Today in Birmingham

On the final day of the 2026 legislative session, Alabama lawmakers passed several education-related bills affecting public schools, colleges and universities, school athletics, and graduation requirements. The bills include proposals on Ten Commandments displays, weekly performances of the national anthem, athletic protections for CHOOSE Act students, faculty senate authority at public universities, and violence prevention instruction for students.

Why it matters

These new education laws reflect ongoing debates in Alabama around issues of religion, patriotism, and student rights. The bills highlight the state legislature's priorities in shaping the educational landscape, which can have significant impacts on students, teachers, and communities.

The details

Key bills that passed include requiring public schools to display the Ten Commandments, mandate weekly performances of the national anthem, provide athletic eligibility protections for CHOOSE Act students, shift more authority to university boards over faculty senates, and mandate violence prevention courses for high school students. Some measures require voter approval as constitutional amendments.

  • The bills were passed on the final day of the 2026 legislative session in Alabama.
  • The Ten Commandments display requirement would take effect on January 1, 2027.
  • The CHOOSE Act athletic protections take effect immediately.
  • The faculty senate authority shift and funding reporting requirements take effect on October 1, 2026.
  • The violence prevention course requirement begins with the 2027-28 school year.

The players

Kay Ivey

The Governor of Alabama, who will need to sign the bills into law.

Gerald Allen

The Republican state senator who sponsored the bill requiring weekly national anthem performances in public schools.

Keith Kelley

The Republican state senator who sponsored the bill requiring Ten Commandments displays in public schools.

Clyde Chambliss

The Republican state senator who sponsored the bill providing athletic eligibility protections for CHOOSE Act students.

Troy Stubbs

The Republican state representative who sponsored the bill shifting more authority to university boards over faculty senates.

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What’s next

The bills that propose constitutional amendments will need to be approved by Alabama voters in the November 2026 election before taking effect.

The takeaway

The flurry of education-related bills passed on the final day of the Alabama legislative session highlights the state's continued focus on shaping the educational landscape through legislation around issues of religion, patriotism, student rights, and university governance. The impacts of these new laws will likely be felt by students, teachers, and communities across the state.