House Bill 294 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Napoleon BracyRepresentative

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Professional Workforce Protection Act; state list of professional careers designated; eligibility for state workforce development programs, grants, scholarships, and loan repayment mandated

Summary

HB294 would create the Alabama Professional Workforce Protection Act to identify key licensed professional careers and link them to state workforce programs and incentives.

What This Bill Does

It would establish a state list of professional careers based on advanced education, licensing, and critical workforce need. It would designate these occupations as professional careers to support Alabama's workforce development. It would make individuals in these careers eligible for state workforce development programs, scholarships, and loan repayment incentives. It would require collaboration between the Department of Workforce Development and the Alabama Commission on Higher Education when adding occupations, while preserving the authority of licensing boards.

Who It Affects

• Professionals currently working in the listed occupations would gain eligibility for state workforce development programs, scholarships, and loan repayment incentives.
• Students, trainees, and job seekers pursuing these careers, along with state agencies, colleges, and workforce boards that administer the programs, would be affected by the new list and funding opportunities.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Professional Workforce Protection Act.
• Establishes a state list of professional careers based on advanced education, licensing, and critical workforce need.
• Lists specific occupations, including nursing (RN, LPN, APN, nurse practitioners, anesthetists, midwives), assistants to physicians, physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists, social workers, mental health counselors, teachers/educators and higher education staff, public health professionals, architecture/design professionals, accounting professionals, engineering professionals, allied health professions, and other occupations added by the Department of Workforce in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education.
• Allows any additional occupation meeting criteria to be added by the Department of Workforce in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education.
• Makes listed professions eligible for state workforce development grants, state-funded scholarships, and loan repayment programs, and for statewide workforce planning and economic development classification.
• Stipulates that the act does not modify the authority or requirements of any state licensing boards.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Occupational Licensing Boards