SB34 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Rodger SmithermanSenator
Democrat
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Public K-12 education; violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation instruction required before graduation from high school, State Board of Education required to adopt standards
Summary: SB34 would require public middle school students to complete a course on violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation before promotion to high school, with state standards and instructional materials to guide implementation.
What This Bill Does
It requires every public middle school student to complete a course or program in violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation before moving to high school, starting with the 2026-2027 school year. The course covers responsible decision-making, causes and effects of violence and harassment, cultural diversity, nonviolent conflict resolution including peer mediation, consequences of violent behavior, causes of violent reactions to conflict, nonviolent conflict resolution techniques, the relationship between drugs, alcohol, and violence, and the use of voluntary peer mediation programs. The State Department of Education must develop standards and provide instructional materials and training by 2026, while local boards choose the specific curriculum and the State Board of Education adopts necessary rules. The act becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
Public middle school students (entering middle school in the 2026-27 school year) who must complete the course before moving to high school.
Public school teachers and local boards of education who will implement and deliver the instruction, with support from the State Department of Education.
The State Department of Education and the State Board of Education, which develop standards, provide materials and training, and adopt rules to implement the program.

Key Provisions
Requires public middle school students to complete a course or program in violence prevention, conflict resolution, and mediation before promotion to high school, starting with the 2026-2027 school year.
Course content includes: responsible decision-making; causes/effects of violence and harassment; cultural diversity; nonviolent conflict resolution including peer mediation; consequences of violent behavior; causes of violent reactions to conflict; nonviolent conflict resolution techniques; relationship between drugs, alcohol, and violence; and voluntary peer mediation programs in classrooms.
State Department of Education must develop standards and provide instructional materials, models, and curricula by June 30, 2026 for local boards to use.
Local boards of education will determine the appropriate curriculum to satisfy the requirement, with the Department assisting in teacher training.
State Board of Education shall adopt rules necessary to implement the section.
The act becomes effective on October 1, 2025.

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