House Bill 98 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Allen TreadawayRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

College tuition; establishing a scholarship program for the dependents of law enforcement officers.

Summary

HB98 would create the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Program to pay college tuition and related costs for the dependents of long-term law enforcement officers, funded in part by a new blackout license plate.

What This Bill Does

It sets up a program to reimburse eligible dependents' tuition, mandatory fees, and books for up to eight semesters or 16 quarters at Alabama postsecondary institutions. Eligible dependents are the spouse or child under 27 of a qualifying officer who has served long enough and who meets state residency and other requirements. The scholarship is capped at $3,000 per academic period and is paid after other aid; funding is limited by an annual appropriation (up to $10 million) and may include private donations, and proceeds from a new blackout license plate. The program would be administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education with annual reporting to the Legislature, and a separate Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund would hold the money.

Who It Affects

• Eligible dependents (spouses and children of qualifying officers) who meet age and residency requirements would be eligible to receive scholarships to cover tuition, fees, and books at participating Alabama institutions.
• Participating institutions, the Alabama Commission on Higher Education, and the Department of Revenue would administer, fund, and oversee the program (including processing applications, reimbursements, records, and the blackout license plate revenue).

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Program to reimburse eligible dependents for education costs up to eight semesters or 16 quarters in Alabama-approved programs.
• Defines eligible dependents as a natural or adopted child under 27 or a current or surviving spouse of a qualifying officer, with age and state residency requirements.
• Requires a qualifying officer to have at least seven years of full-time service with a single agency or 12 years across multiple agencies, and not have been terminated for disciplinary action.
• Covers tuition, mandatory fees, and books or required media for an approved program, with the scholarship paying after other public or private aid is applied.
• Sets the scholarship maximum at $3,000 per academic period; annual funding is capped at $10 million and may be augmented by private donations; blackout license plate revenue supports the program.
• Administered by the Alabama Commission on Higher Education; creates the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Fund in the State Treasury and requires annual reporting to the Legislature.
• Imposes a new blackout license plate with a $50 annual fee; revenue is split between a commission, Department of Corrections, Department of Revenue, and the Scholarship Fund; plate design and issuance timelines are specified.

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

Subjects

Education