# Alabama SB168: Public K-12 education; to prohibit the three-cueing system of reading instruction

Alabama SB168, Public K-12 education; to prohibit the three-cueing system of reading instruction, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Donnie Chesteen (Republican); status enacted, last action 2026-03-05 (Enacted) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB168-2026rs
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Alabama SB168
- State: Alabama
- Session: 2026 Regular Session
- Title: Public K-12 education; to prohibit the three-cueing system of reading instruction
- Status: enacted
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-15
- Last action: 2026-03-05, Enacted
- Sponsor: Donnie Chesteen (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Subjects: Education
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 4 (262 yes, 0 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 2

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Alabama schools must use research-based reading materials: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, Alabama public schools must use high-quality, research-based reading materials in kindergarten through grade 12. Materials must use structured literacy for reading words and phonics for decoding and spelling, regardless of the approval process. Required skills include sound…
- New reading standards for Alabama teacher training: benefit, low. Beginning June 1, 2026, Alabama’s State Board of Education must set research-based standards for reading-training materials, including course textbooks. These standards cover state-approved programs for elementary teachers, school leaders, and other school staff, including approved alternative prog…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Donnie Chesteen (Republican), Senate

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 657 | pass | 98 | 0 | 5 |
| 2026-02-26 | House | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 100 | 0 | 2 |
| 2026-01-22 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 130 | pass | 32 | 0 |   |
| 2026-01-22 | Senate | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 32 | 0 |   |

## Actions (17)

- 2026-03-05: Enacted (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Third Reading in Second House (House)
- 2026-02-26: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 657 (House)
- 2026-02-26: Ready to Enroll (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Enrolled (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Delivered to Governor (Senate)
- 2026-02-26: Signature Requested (House)
- 2026-01-29: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House)
- 2026-01-28: Reported Out of Committee Second House (House)
- 2026-01-22: Third Reading in House of Origin (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 130 (Senate)
- 2026-01-22: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (House)
- 2026-01-22: Pending Committee Action in Second House (House)
- 2026-01-21: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate)
- 2026-01-21: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy (Senate)
- 2026-01-15: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Senate)

## Bill text

- As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB168-int.pdf)
- Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB168-enr.pdf)

## Related bills

- HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for misuse of personal voter information; created (enacted)
- SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026 (enacted)
- SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require indigent candidates to submit documentation for fee exemption (enacted)
- HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for violations provided for (enacted)
- SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitation purposes prohibited; redaction of certain information relating to financial tr… (enacted)
- SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular (enacted)

## Sources
- [As Introduced (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB168-int.pdf)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB168-enr.pdf)

## Related
- [HB67: Voter Information; limit cost of reproducing voter registration list; crime for…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB67-2026rs)
- [SB154: State employees, cost-of-living increase for fiscal year beginning October 1, 2…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB154-2026rs)
- [SB165: Elections; municipal elections, to set qualification fee amounts, to require in…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB165-2026rs)
- [HB317: Firefighter distinctive license plate; fire chaplains included, penalty for vio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-HB317-2026rs)
- [SB272: Open Records; use of public records relating to schools for certain solicitatio…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB272-2026rs)
- [SB190: Sales Tax; to exempt Precision Ocular](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB190-2026rs)
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Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB168-2026rs (as of 2026-10-19).