HB145 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Danny GarrettRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Appropriations from Education Trust Fund for the support, maintenance, and development of public education for fiscal year ending September 30, 2025.

Summary

HB145 trims a comprehensive Education Trust Fund appropriation for FY 2025 to fund public education in Alabama, covering K-12 and higher education, debt service, and capital outlay with numerous targeted programs and reporting requirements.

What This Bill Does

It allocates ETF and other funds to a wide array of education programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, including debt service and capital outlay. It designates substantial funding for key K-12 initiatives such as the Alabama Reading Initiative, AMSTI (math and science), dual enrollment, and extensive teacher professional development, while also funding numerous higher education programs, scholarships, and state agency operations. It requires semi-annual reporting to legislative committees on expenditures, enforces program-specific use restrictions, and allows unexpended funds to be reappropriated for the same program in the next year. It affects local school systems, public colleges and universities, students and families, teachers and school staff, and state education agencies with detailed grant distributions and oversight obligations.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education and local education agencies (LEAs): receive funds for K-12 programs (e.g., Foundation Program, reading coaches, EL support, At-Risk grants) and must follow program purposes, reporting, and expenditure rules.
• Public colleges and universities in Alabama: receive money for operations, maintenance, auxiliary and restricted funds, and program-specific allocations (AMSTI-related, STEM, scholarships, facilities, and specialized centers).
• Students and families: benefit from scholarships, grants, reading and math initiatives, dual enrollment support, and tutoring/after-school programs.
• Teachers and school staff: eligible for salary supplements, stipends (NBCT, CALT, special education, reading coaches), professional development, and targeted staffing funding (e.g., nurse allocations, instructional support units).
• State agencies and oversight bodies: ALSDE, Department of Education, Examiners of Public Accounts, and Legislative committees receive reporting requirements and monitoring responsibilities to ensure proper use of funds.
• Vendors and service providers: funded through various programs (e.g., workforce development, cybersecurity training, STEM initiatives) to deliver services, training, and materials.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Dedicated funding and oversight for Alabama Reading Initiative and Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) with explicit ETF allocations, restrictions on reallocation, and semi-annual reporting to the Chairs of the Senate Finance and Taxation-Education Committee and House Ways and Means-Education Committee, plus the Finance Director and Legislative Fiscal Officer. Funds allocated to AMSTI and reading initiatives must be used for their stated purposes (equipment, materials, on-site support, professional development) and are not easily repurposed for other uses.
• Provision 2: Foundation Program for K-12 instructional salaries and supports, including a salary matrix linked to credentials and contract days, allowances for substitutes and fringe benefits, and targeted supplements (e.g., National Board Certified Teachers and high-need schools). The provision also prohibits using Foundation Program funds to pay membership dues, requires per-pupil and unit-based allocations for classroom materials and support, and mandates local boards to administer funds in alignment with state rules and annual reporting.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Appropriations