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HB248 Alabama 2021 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026
Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor
Kerry Rich
Kerry Rich
Republican
Session
Regular Session 2021
Title
Education, broadcast of public K-12 school sporting events
Summary

HB248 guarantees media access to broadcast public K-12 school sporting events and gives each school the sole authority to decide which outlets can cover regular-season games.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines terms for broadcasting and coverage, and prohibits interference with media organizations seeking to cover K-12 sports. It requires public K-12 schools to allow reasonable access for media personnel. It also gives each school the exclusive right to choose which media organizations may cover or broadcast its regular-season games and to contract for those broadcasts. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after it is enacted into law.

Who It Affects
  • Media organizations (newspapers, radio, TV, websites) would have clearer rights and protections to cover and broadcast public K-12 school sporting events.
  • Public K-12 schools would retain control over which media outlets may cover or broadcast their regular-season sports and would be responsible for contracting broadcasts, with no interference from others.
Key Provisions
  • Definitions for BROADCAST (any medium accessible by TV, radio, internet, etc.), COVER (observe for reporting and broadcast), and MEDIA ORGANIZATION (entities that publish or broadcast news).
  • Protection from interference: individuals, firms, associations, and schools cannot block or restrict media from covering K-12 sporting events; schools must allow reasonable access.
  • Each school has sole authority to determine which media organizations may cover or broadcast its regular-season sporting events and to contract for those broadcasts.
  • Effective date: the act takes effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.
AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects
Education

Bill Actions

H

Delivered to Governor at 8:42 p.m. on May 4, 2021.

H

Assigned Act No. 2021-452.

H

Clerk of the House Certification

S

Signature Requested

H

Enrolled

H

Passed Second House

S

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 1327

S

Third Reading Passed

S

Read for the second time and placed on the calendar

S

Read for the first time and referred to the Senate committee on Education Policy

H

Engrossed

H

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass adopted Roll Call 645

H

Motion to Adopt adopted Roll Call 644

H

Rich Amendment Offered

H

Rich motion to Table adopted Roll Call 643

H

Education Policy Amendment Offered

H

Third Reading Passed

H

Read for the second time and placed on the calendar 1 amendment

H

Read for the first time and referred to the House of Representatives committee on Education Policy

Bill Text

Download Enrolled PDF

Votes

Rich motion to Table Roll Call 643

April 1, 2021 House Passed
Yes 94
Abstained 5
Absent 4

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass Roll Call 645

April 1, 2021 House Passed
Yes 98
Absent 5

HBIR: Rich motion to Adopt Roll Call 642

April 1, 2021 House Passed
Yes 98
Absent 5

SBIR: Scofield motion to Adopt Roll Call 1326

May 4, 2021 Senate Passed
Yes 26
Absent 8

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass Roll Call 1327

May 4, 2021 Senate Passed
Yes 26
Absent 8

Documents

Bill Text (Enrolled) HB248 Alabama 2021 Session - Enrolled
Bill Text (Engrossed) HB248 Alabama 2021 Session - Engrossed
Bill Text (Introduced) HB248 Alabama 2021 Session - Introduced

Source: Alabama Legislature