HB91 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Troy StubbsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public K-12 schools; membership in certain athletic associations, competition against certain schools prohibited

Summary

HB91 would bar public K-12 schools that receive state funds from joining certain athletic associations and from competing against certain other schools based on safety and governance standards.

What This Bill Does

The bill defines what an athletic association is and then prohibits state-funded public K-12 schools from joining associations that discourage competition with non-member schools (including scrimmages and similar events). It also prevents public schools from competing against non-member schools if the non-member’s association does not meet a detailed set of safety and governance requirements (such as preparticipation physicals, concussion protocols, NFHS rule compliance, age limits, and certified officials). It states that nonpublic schools’ membership and governance are not altered by the bill. The act takes effect July 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 schools that receive state funding, by restricting which athletic associations they may join and whom they may compete against.
• Nonpublic K-12 schools and the athletic associations they belong to, as the bill does not change their membership or governance (indirect effects may occur through changes in public-school competition).

Key Provisions

• Definition of 'athletic association' as any organization that organizes, sanctions, schedules, or makes rules for interscholastic events for K-12 students in Alabama.
• Public K-12 schools that receive state funding may not be members of athletic associations that prohibit or discourage competition with non-member schools (including scrimmage games, jamborees, or matches).
• Public K-12 schools that receive state funding may not be members of athletic associations that unreasonably withhold approval or support of another association's application to become an affiliate with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) within Alabama.
• Public K-12 schools may not compete against or engage in athletic events with a non-member school if the non-member is part of an association that does not meet all specified safety and governance requirements (preparticipation physicals, concussion management and return-to-play protocol, NFHS compliance, association competition rules, age restrictions, certified officials, and compliance with state laws).
• The bill requires compliance with NFHS rules, the governing association's competition rules, use of certified game officials, and adherence to state laws including Chapter 30D of Title 16 of the Alabama Code.
• The act does not affect the membership or governance of nonpublic K-12 schools.
• Effective date: July 1, 2024.

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

Subjects

Children; Education