# Alabama SB248: Religious instruction; elective credit for release time further provided for Alabama SB248, Religious instruction; elective credit for release time further provided for, is a 2026 Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Shay Shelnutt (Republican); status enacted, last action 2026-04-08 (Enacted) (as of 2026-10-19). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB248-2026rs - As of: 2026-10-19 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Alabama SB248 - State: Alabama - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: Religious instruction; elective credit for release time further provided for - Status: enacted - Chamber: Senate - Introduced: 2026-02-03 - Last action: 2026-04-08, Enacted - Sponsor: Shay Shelnutt (Republican) - Cosponsors: 0 - Subjects: Education - Touches household money: no - Roll calls: 7 (380 yes, 6 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 2 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Alabama families gain religious instruction options: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Alabama school boards must allow parents to choose religious instruction during the public-school day. A church or local religious group must provide it off school property. Boards may deny participation for evidence-based risks of serious physical harm, including risks from… - New religious instruction rules for families: mixed, low. Beginning July 1, 2026, Alabama's state and local school boards must adopt policies for religious released-time programs. Policies may require written parent consent and one checkout authorization for the school year, rather than a form each session. They may require sponsors to share attendance re… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Shay Shelnutt (Republican), Senate ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-04-01 | Senate | Shelnutt Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment to SB248 | pass | 32 | 0 | | | 2026-04-01 | House | Third Reading in Second House | pass | 98 | 0 | 3 | | 2026-03-31 | House | Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1085 | pass | 103 | 0 | | | 2026-03-31 | House | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1086 | pass | 66 | 0 | 32 | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Shelnutt motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 499 | pass | 26 | 3 | | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Third Reading in House of Origin | pass | 26 | 3 | | | 2026-02-19 | Senate | Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 500 | pass | 29 | 0 | | ## Actions (24) - 2026-04-08: Enacted (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Third Reading in Second House (House) - 2026-04-01: Shelnutt Motion to Concur In and Adopt House Amendment to SB248 (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Ready to Enroll (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Enrolled (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Delivered to Governor (Senate) - 2026-04-01: Signature Requested (House) - 2026-03-31: Education Policy Engrossed Substitute Offered (House) - 2026-03-31: Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1085 (House) - 2026-03-31: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1086 (House) - 2026-03-11: Reported Out of Committee Second House (House) - 2026-03-11: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (House) - 2026-02-19: Third Reading in House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Education Policy 1st Amendment Offered (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Shelnutt motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 499 (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 500 (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Engrossed (Senate) - 2026-02-19: Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy (House) - 2026-02-19: Pending Committee Action in Second House (House) - 2026-02-12: Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Education Policy 1st Amendment (Senate) - 2026-02-11: Reported Out of Committee House of Origin (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy (Senate) - 2026-02-03: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Senate) ## Bill text - As Introduced: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB248-int.pdf) - Engrossed: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB248-eng.pdf) - Enrolled: [PDF](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB248-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/SB248-int.pdf) - [Engrossed (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB248-eng.pdf) - [Enrolled (PDF)](https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/files/pdf/SearchableInstruments/2026RS/SB248-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) - [Alabama bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama/bills) - [Alabama state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/alabama) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/AL-SB248-2026rs (as of 2026-10-19).