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AlabamaHB2662025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Restoring Educational Advancement of Completing High School (REACH) Act, providing for a nontraditional high school diploma option for students 17 years of age and older who withdraw from school through the Adult Education Division of the Alabama Community College System; to provide for the sharing of data on students who drop out of high school; and to provide that participating students are eligible for driver's licenses

Sponsored By: Matt Woods (Republican)

Enacted

Education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Diploma students gain a license route

Beginning June 1, 2025, applicants under age 19 gain another route to an Alabama driver's or learner's license. They can document enrollment and satisfactory progress in the nontraditional high school diploma program. This adds an alternative to the existing GED route. Other licensing requirements still apply.

New diploma path for school leavers

Beginning June 1, 2025, Alabama offers a diploma path for people age 17 or older who left high school before graduating. The Alabama Community College System runs the program with state education officials, using coursework aligned with public high school diploma requirements. Graduates can seek admission to Alabama public two-year and four-year colleges; each college's admission standards still apply. Local school systems must promote the option to at-risk juniors and seniors. The system's Adult Education Division and the State Department of Education support statewide promotion.

School leavers get records and referrals

Beginning June 1, 2025, Alabama public school students age 17 or older can withdraw before graduating with written parent or guardian consent. The required exit interview must take place and include warnings and information about leaving school. Schools must explain adult education services, GED preparation, and the nontraditional diploma option. They must also provide academic records, including the current transcript, counseling contacts, and requested adult education referrals.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Matt Woods

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Anthony Daniels

    Democratic • House

  • Arnold Mooney

    Republican • House

  • Barbara Drummond

    Democratic • House

  • Bill Lamb

    Republican • House

  • Bryan Brinyark

    Republican • House

  • Chad Robertson

    Republican • House

  • Chip Brown

    Republican • House

  • Craig Lipscomb

    Republican • House

  • David Faulkner

    Republican • House

  • David Standridge

    Republican • House

  • James Lomax

    Republican • House

  • Jerry Starnes

    Republican • House

  • Kerry (Bubba) Underwood

    Republican • House

  • Leigh Hulsey

    Republican • House

  • Mark Shirey

    Republican • House

  • Matthew Hammett

    Republican • House

  • Member 110857

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Mike Kirkland

    Republican • House

  • Mike Shaw

    Republican • House

  • Patrick Sellers

    Democratic • House

  • Phillip Pettus

    Republican • House

  • Phillip Rigsby

    Republican • House

  • Rick Rehm

    Republican • House

  • Ron Bolton

    Republican • House

  • Scott Stadthagen

    Republican • House

  • Susan DuBose

    Republican • House

  • Tim Wadsworth

    Republican • House

  • Tracy Estes

    Republican • House

  • Troy Stubbs

    Republican • House

  • William Brock Colvin

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 444 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 957

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 236

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2025

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 234

Yes: 102 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2025

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 235

Yes: 103 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 102 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    5/14/2025House

  2. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 957

    5/6/2025Senate

  3. Ready to Enroll

    5/6/2025House

  4. Enrolled

    5/6/2025House

  5. Signature Requested

    5/6/2025Senate

  6. Delivered to Governor

    5/6/2025House

  7. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    3/5/2025Senate

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

    3/5/2025Senate

  9. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy

    2/27/2025Senate

  10. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    2/27/2025Senate

  11. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/25/2025House

  12. Education Policy Engrossed Substitute Offered

    2/25/2025House

  13. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 234

    2/25/2025House

  14. Smith 1st Amendment Offered

    2/25/2025House

  15. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 235

    2/25/2025House

  16. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 236

    2/25/2025House

  17. Engrossed

    2/25/2025House

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

    2/20/2025House

  19. Education Policy 1st Amendment

    2/19/2025House

  20. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/19/2025House

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

    2/12/2025House

  22. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    2/12/2025House

Bill Text

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