SB2 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Gerald H. AllenSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Public K-12 Education, Star-Spangled Banner to be broadcast each week during instructional hours, constitutional amendment

Summary

SB2 would amend Alabama's Constitution to require every public K-12 school to broadcast or have the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner performed at least once per week during school hours.

What This Bill Does

It would require local boards of education to adopt policies that ensure weekly broadcast or sanctioned performances of the first stanza at all public K-12 schools in their districts. Schools could meet this by broadcasting an archived Library of Congress recording or by allowing a school-sanctioned performance using original sheet music archived by the Library of Congress. If the song is not played Monday through Thursday, it must be played on Friday morning. The change is a proposed constitutional amendment and would become part of the Alabama Constitution if voters approve it.

Who It Affects

• Local boards of education in Alabama: must adopt policies requiring weekly Star-Spangled Banner broadcasts or sanctioned performances in public K-12 schools within their districts.
• Public K-12 schools and their students and music programs: must implement the policy by delivering a weekly performance or broadcast (via archival recording or school-based performance) during school hours.

Key Provisions

• Requires local boards of education to adopt a policy requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast or sanction the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.
• If not played Monday through Thursday, the Star-Spangled Banner must be played or broadcast on Friday morning.
• Broadcast option: select an archived Library of Congress recording of the first stanza for playback.
• Alternative option: allow a school-sanctioned performance using original sheet music archived by the Library of Congress (by a band, chorus, vocal group, or individual performer).
• After ratification, the Code Commissioner may number and place the amendment in the constitution and make nonsubstantive editorial revisions (capitalization, spelling, punctuation, and cross-references).

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