PRIA Logo™
AlabamaHB1242026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Terri Collins (Republican)

Enacted

Education

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Extra loan help for shortage locations

Beginning August 1, 2026, educators qualifying for base loan help can receive extra help in an acute educator shortage location. The extra award is $3,000 per qualifying year or $1,500 per qualifying semester, for up to four consecutive years. Charter-school educators are not eligible for this extra award. Extra payments stop when an educator moves to a location without the qualifying designation. Base help can continue when the educator's employment still qualifies.

Loan help for Alabama shortage educators

Beginning August 1, 2026, Alabama's renamed LASEA program provides eligible educators $7,500 per qualifying year or $3,750 per qualifying semester. Help lasts up to four consecutive years and pays only outstanding subsidized or unsubsidized federal student loans. Applicants must complete an approved bachelor's or master's program in an identified acute shortage field. They must hold an Alabama educator certificate based on that program; a Praxis endorsement test alone does not qualify. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and generally live in Alabama, with an exception for qualifying out-of-state graduates. Their public K–12 work must meet the required workload addressing an acute educator shortage. Charter-school educators qualify for base help only at schools accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Recipients must reapply annually, provide employer verification, register online with the state Comptroller, and report name, address, or employment changes within 30 days. Payments occur after January 1 and June 1, depend on available funding, and cannot exceed the remaining loan balance. The program must inform recipients that awards count as taxable income.

Educators keep eligibility and shed paperwork

Beginning August 1, 2026, prior recipients keep repayment eligibility while continuously employed with a qualifying school. This protection covers applicants who met program requirements and received a repayment before August 1, 2026. Repayments remain subject to program requirements. The law also repeals the special documentation requirement and related reimbursement provisions for educators certified through alternative programs. That repeal does not remove the program's general application and employment-verification requirements.

Out-of-state graduates gain educator loan help

Beginning August 1, 2026, qualifying out-of-state graduates can receive educator loan help without living in Alabama. They must earn a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited college in another state after spring semester 2021. They must be authorized to work as Alabama educators and then work in an Alabama public K–12 school or system. They still must meet the program's other education, certification, shortage-work, and federal student loan requirements.

Educator loan funds get spending safeguards

Beginning August 1, 2026, the educator loan program can spend no more than 10 percent of annual appropriations on operations and maintenance. Unspent appropriated funds stay with the program after the fiscal year ends. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education must identify acute educator shortage fields and locations at least once each academic year. It must consult the State Department of Education and the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services. The commission must also develop an accountability and evaluation plan and set allocation procedures when eligible awards exceed available funding.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Terri Collins

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 260 • No: 10

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 790

Yes: 35 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/10/2026

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 35 • No: 0

House vote • 1/15/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 98 • No: 2 • Other: 1

House vote • 1/15/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 11

Yes: 92 • No: 8 • Other: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    3/31/2026House

  2. Signature Requested

    3/11/2026Senate

  3. Delivered to Governor

    3/11/2026House

  4. Third Reading in Second House

    3/10/2026Senate

  5. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 790

    3/10/2026Senate

  6. Ready to Enroll

    3/10/2026House

  7. Enrolled

    3/10/2026House

  8. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    2/25/2026Senate

  9. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    2/25/2026Senate

  10. Third Reading in House of Origin

    1/15/2026House

  11. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 11

    1/15/2026House

  12. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation Education

    1/15/2026Senate

  13. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    1/15/2026Senate

  14. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    1/14/2026House

  15. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    1/14/2026House

  16. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy

    1/13/2026House

  17. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation