House Bill 489 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Alabama Student Grant Program; independent postsecondary online institution located in Orange Beach, Alabama added to approved institutions for which students may receive grants to attend

Summary

HB489 adds an independent online postsecondary institution located in Orange Beach to the list of approved schools for Alabama Student Grant Program funding.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the Alabama Student Grant Program would be able to include the Orange Beach online institution as an eligible option for grant funds. The bill requires this institution to be accredited and to offer a nonsectarian, secular curriculum, with admissions not discriminated on religious grounds. It also makes nonsubstantive, technical updates to current law and establishes an effective date of October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Eligible Alabama undergraduate residents who plan to attend the Orange Beach online institution and meet other program requirements (such as duration and non-theology study) could receive grant funds.
• The Orange Beach online institution would become an approved recipient of Alabama Student Grant Program funds and would participate in the program alongside other approved institutions.

Key Provisions

• Adds independent postsecondary online institution in Orange Beach, Alabama to the list of approved institutions for the Alabama Student Grant Program.
• Approved institutions must have a nonsectarian curriculum, be secular in function, not primarily award theology degrees, and must not discriminate in admissions on religious grounds.
• An approved institution cannot be considered approved in a fiscal year in which it receives direct state appropriation.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.
• Includes nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update code language to current style.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 19, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education