PRIA Logo™
AlabamaSB1962025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET

Move on When Ready; program established to allow qualifying high school junior and seniors to enroll full time at eligible community college, course approval provided for, Move on When Ready Fund created, Alabama Community College System required to administer

Sponsored By: Arthur Orr (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

6 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Teens gain college access, lose school activities

Beginning July 1, 2026, Move on When Ready lets eligible Alabama students entering grades 11 or 12 attend college full time. Students must have attended an Alabama public high school the prior school year, meet program eligibility standards, and gain admission. Eligible schools include public two-year colleges, including technical schools, and public four-year colleges that choose to participate. Participants become college students and cannot take high school courses or join high school activities. Participants who do not finish diploma requirements are not counted as dropouts in state reports. The program leaves existing dual enrollment law and funding in place as of October 1, 2024.

College courses count toward teen diplomas

Beginning July 1, 2026, successfully completed program courses earn high school credit when approved by the state education board and college. Courses must closely match approved high school courses; remedial and summer courses do not qualify for this comparable credit. Students can take approved courses outside the regular school day. A qualifying co-requisite support course and its companion college course together earn no more than one high school credit. Other completed courses may earn elective credit. Credits count toward graduation and subject requirements, appear on transcripts, and receive the same treatment as dual enrollment credits. The state board must require local boards to award diplomas when earned credits meet graduation requirements.

Teens pay no program course charges

Beginning July 1, 2026, the law creates a state treasury fund to pay colleges for Move on When Ready coursework. Colleges cannot charge participating students for these courses and must accept fund payments as full payment. Before a records-fee deduction, payments equal the lower of actual tuition, materials, and related fees or equivalent local-school funding. Payments are reduced by a $200 records fee for local-board administration, not a bill to the student. The state education board may raise that fee by up to 4% each year. In a student's second program year, the local board's total funding calculation is reduced by the fund payment. Payments follow state budget rules and are limited to legislative appropriations; the law specifies no funding amount.

Program students cannot stack state aid

Beginning July 1, 2026, students cannot receive other state student financial aid for Move on When Ready courses. This restriction applies to program courses taken for high school credit, not coursework outside the program.

Families get counseling before college enrollment

Beginning July 1, 2026, local school boards must provide Move on When Ready information and forms by April 1 each year. They must reach middle school students and students in grades 9 through 11. Before enrollment, boards must counsel the student and a parent or guardian. Before participation, both must sign a form confirming they received counseling and understand their responsibilities.

False college funding claims bring penalties

Beginning July 1, 2026, knowingly making, providing, or accepting false statements to help a college wrongfully obtain program payments is a misdemeanor. Colleges cannot receive state funds for participating students unless they follow the law's program requirements. State education officials, the community college trustees, and the higher education Council of Presidents must jointly adopt program rules. These include eligibility standards and counseling guidelines. By July 1 each year, the education department, working with the college systems, must publish results for the prior academic year. Reports must show participants by district and counts completing the program, graduating, or earning a college credential.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Arthur Orr

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 315 • No: 3

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

Orr Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 989

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 5/6/2025

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1165

Yes: 100 • No: 2 • Other: 1

House vote • 5/6/2025

Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1164

Yes: 100 • No: 1 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

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

Yes: 27 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 607

Yes: 27 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/9/2025

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 27 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    5/14/2025Senate

  2. Education Policy Engrossed Substitute Offered

    5/6/2025House

  3. Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1164

    5/6/2025House

  4. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1165

    5/6/2025House

  5. Orr Concur In and Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 989

    5/6/2025Senate

  6. Ready to Enroll

    5/6/2025Senate

  7. Enrolled

    5/6/2025Senate

  8. Signature Requested

    5/6/2025House

  9. Delivered to Governor

    5/6/2025Senate

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

    4/17/2025House

  11. Education Policy 1st Amendment

    4/16/2025House

  12. Education Policy 2nd Amendment

    4/16/2025House

  13. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    4/16/2025House

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

    4/10/2025House

  15. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    4/10/2025House

  16. Third Reading in House of Origin

    4/9/2025Senate

  17. Orr 1st Amendment Offered

    4/9/2025Senate

  18. Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 607

    4/9/2025Senate

  19. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 608

    4/9/2025Senate

  20. Engrossed

    4/9/2025Senate

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

    2/27/2025Senate

  22. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/26/2025Senate

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

    2/25/2025Senate

  24. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    2/25/2025Senate

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation