HB26 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mary Sue McClurkinCity Council

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Unfunded mandates, remove exception for local boards of education from Amendment 621, Amendment 621, (Section 111.05 of Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Summary

HB26 would remove the local board of education from the unfunded mandate exception, making new or increased local schooling costs subject to local approval or funding.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the amendment would change Amendment 621 so that any general law or state order that would require a new or increased expenditure by a local board of education cannot take effect without local approval or matching funding. It would require the affected board to have local ordinance or resolution approval, or for the Legislature to provide funds or a local revenue source, to cover the costs. The amendment also defines which entities are considered a board of education and outlines several exemptions that would still apply.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education (school districts) – would now have to obtain local approval or funding for new or increased costs imposed by state laws or orders.
• Local taxpayers and communities served by school districts – could face changes in budgeting or funding requirements if new mandates require additional local spending.

Key Provisions

• Removes the exemption for expenditures by a local board of education from the unfunded mandates rule in Amendment 621.
• Requires any general law or state executive order that would cause new or increased local expenditures by a board of education to be approved by local ordinance/resolution or funded by the Legislature or a local revenue source, to the extent funds are provided.
• Defines 'board of education' to include the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Alabama School of Fine Arts, and the Alabama High School of Mathematics and Science.
• Retains certain exemptions from the amendment, such as local laws, pre-1999 school board expenditures, compliance with federal mandates, acts with two-thirds legislative approval, acts with aggregate insignificant fiscal impact (<$50,000 annually), and acts addressing compensation/benefits/due process of board employees.
• Requires an election to approve the amendment (ballot language and description provided) and states the amendment becomes valid if a majority of qualified electors voting on it approve.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Unfunded Mandates