SB5 Alabama 2026 Session

Updated Mar 5, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Gerald H. AllenSenator
Republican
Session: 2026 Regular Session
Title: Public K-12 schools, broadcast of the Star-Spangled Banner required weekly, proposed statewide constitutional amendment
Summary: SB5 would propose a statewide constitutional amendment requiring Alabama public K-12 schools to broadcast or sanction the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.
What This Bill Does
If passed, it would amend the Alabama Constitution to require local boards of education to adopt policies ensuring every public K-12 school under their jurisdiction broadcasts or sanctions a weekly performance of the first stanza during school hours. Boards could meet this by using a Library of Congress recorded version or by a live performance from sheet music archived by the Library of Congress, performed by a school program. The amendment would be put to voters in a statewide election, and after ratification, the Code Commissioner would place the amendment in the constitution and may make non-substantive stylistic revisions.

Who It Affects
Public K-12 students in Alabama, who would experience a weekly broadcast or sanctioned performance during school hours.
Local boards of education in Alabama, which would be required to adopt policies to implement the weekly broadcast/performance requirement.

Key Provisions
Section 2(a): Each local board of education must adopt a policy requiring every public K-12 school under its jurisdiction to broadcast the Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.
Section 2(b): Boards may satisfy the requirement by (1) broadcasting a Library of Congress archived recording or (2) permitting a school-sanctioned live performance using original sheet music archived by the Library of Congress.
Section 2: After ratification, the Code Commissioner shall number/place the amendment in the constitution and may perform nonsubstantive style/format revisions.
Section 3-4: A statewide election will be held to approve the amendment; it becomes valid if a majority of qualified electors voting on the measure approve.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Constitutional Amendments Statewide