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AlabamaHB982026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

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

Sponsored By: Allen Treadaway (Republican)

Enacted

Education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

New tuition help for officers’ families

Effective October 1, 2026, the law creates Alabama’s Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Program. It helps natural or adopted children under 24 and current or surviving spouses who have lived in Alabama for at least the preceding five years. The officer must meet Alabama’s legal definition and have at least 15 years of full-time state or local law-enforcement service. The service rule covers qualifying employment on or after January 1, 2026, or separation within the past 10 years through resignation, retirement, or death. Officers whose final employment ended through disciplinary termination do not qualify. Applicants eligible for the separate police officers’ survivors education program cannot receive this scholarship. After other public or private aid, awards pay remaining eligible tuition and mandatory fees, up to $2,500 per semester or quarter. The cap is $1,500 for recipients eligible for a school discount through an officer’s employment with an agency serving that school. Books, equipment, supplies, differential tuition, and department- or course-specific fees are not covered. Recipients can use up to eight semesters or 12 quarters at participating accredited public colleges. Covered programs include credit and noncredit training leading toward vocational certificates, associate degrees, or bachelor’s degrees. Multiple dependents of one officer can receive awards together or at different times. Applicants must provide enrollment records, a FAFSA or school equivalent, officer and family verification, and permission to share education records. Recipients must meet school academic-progress standards, live full time in Alabama, and finish covered terms within 66 months of approval. The Commission can waive that deadline for injury, illness, required part-time study, or other extraordinary circumstances. Spouse eligibility ends upon divorce; surviving spouses lose eligibility upon remarriage. School-approved program changes or transfers must occur before the fifth scholarship semester or ninth scholarship quarter begins. Awards depend on available fund money. Beginning October 1, 2027, awards also require an annual Education Trust Fund appropriation capped at $10 million. That requirement ends when prior-year blackout-plate receipts reach $10 million; the appropriation does not reduce money held before October 1, 2027. The Alabama Commission on Higher Education runs the program and reimburses contracted schools after other aid is applied. Schools must submit certified student invoices and requested records. The fund accepts plate revenue, appropriations, gifts, grants, loans, sponsorships, and donations. The Commission can retain up to 3% of yearly fund deposits for administration. Each January 1, it must report approvals, remaining scholarship terms, spending and recipient counts by school, and completed certificates or degrees.

Drivers pay extra for blackout plates

Beginning January 1, 2027, Alabama residents can request optional blackout plates for private passenger vehicles or motorcycles. Owners pay an extra $50 each year, plus regular registration fees, and must follow registration and licensing laws. The plates have a black background and white text and can be personalized. From each extra fee, a 2.5% commission is deducted, along with $1.50 for manufacturing and $1 for administration. The remaining money goes to the Law Enforcement Officers’ Family Scholarship Fund.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Allen Treadaway

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 393 • No: 2

Senate vote • 4/7/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1182

Yes: 32 • No: 1

House vote • 4/7/2026

Treadaway Motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1256

Yes: 104 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/7/2026

Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1181

Yes: 32 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/7/2026

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 31 • No: 1

House vote • 2/26/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 608

Yes: 99 • No: 0 • Other: 3

House vote • 2/26/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 95 • No: 0 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/9/2026House

  2. Enrolled

    4/8/2026House

  3. Delivered to Governor

    4/8/2026House

  4. Signature Requested

    4/8/2026Senate

  5. Third Reading in Second House

    4/7/2026Senate

  6. Finance and Taxation Education 1st Substitute Offered

    4/7/2026Senate

  7. Barfoot motion to Table - Adopted Voice Vote

    4/7/2026Senate

  8. Orr 1st Substitute Offered

    4/7/2026Senate

  9. Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1181

    4/7/2026Senate

  10. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1182

    4/7/2026Senate

  11. Treadaway Motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1256

    4/7/2026House

  12. Ready to Enroll

    4/7/2026House

  13. Finance and Taxation Education 1st Substitute

    4/1/2026Senate

  14. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    4/1/2026Senate

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

    4/1/2026Senate

  16. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/26/2026House

  17. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 608

    2/26/2026House

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

    2/26/2026Senate

  19. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    2/26/2026Senate

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

    2/12/2026House

  21. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/11/2026House

  22. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means Education

    1/13/2026House

  23. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    1/13/2026House

Bill Text

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