Senate Bill 108 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew JonesSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

National Guard; Educational Assistance Program, applied to workforce development programs, amount of benefits revised

Summary

SB108 would expand Alabama's National Guard Educational Assistance Program to cover workforce development programs, additional education costs, and revised eligibility rules.

What This Bill Does

It adds workforce development programs to eligible training and allows benefits to be used for on-campus living expenses and meal plans. It removes the academic excellence benefit and changes how eligibility and benefits are earned, including new limits on hours and degree eligibility. It creates an annual $10 million appropriation for the program, with rules to pay benefits timely and to cap payments at 100% of qualified tuition/fees or the state median per-term cost. It repeals a prior qualification section and sets new administration rules, including who decides eligibility and how nonaccredited programs are approved.

Who It Affects

• Active members of the Alabama National Guard who would receive tuition reimbursement and workforce development program benefits, subject to GPA, satisfactory progress, and other eligibility rules.
• Current and prospective students in Alabama higher education (including high school students dual-enrolled with colleges and students in workforce development programs) who could receive tuition reimbursement or related educational assistance under the program, subject to FAFSA requirements, hours limits, and degree restrictions.

Key Provisions

• Authorize tuition assistance for workforce development programs in addition to traditional degree/certificate programs; allow use of funds for on-campus living expenses and meal plans.
• Eliminate Academic Excellence Benefits and revise qualification standards for tuition assistance; repeal Section 31-10-4.1.
• Define and authorize a Workforce Development Program and related terms; permit nonaccredited programs if they meet specified requirements; require CHE to approve nonaccredited programs not tied to a degree-granting institution.
• Set a $10,000,000 annual appropriation with annual reevaluation to reflect higher education cost changes; payments to be made based on certified invoices and student enrollment.
• Impose limits on benefits (e.g., up to 120 academic hours total, with no more than 72 hours at a community college; no second bachelor’s or graduate degrees if already earned those), and require last-dollar application of benefits where possible.
• Prohibit nonresident tuition charges for eligible active National Guard members at public institutions; ensure program oversight by CHE with the Adjutant General as an advisor.

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

Subjects

Military