Senate Bill 191 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Homeschooling Opportunities for Military Education (HOME) Act; active military to provide notice and comply with state law relating to home schooled students; local school systems to provide equal access to JROTC programs, facilities, special education services to certain nonenrolled students, and interscholastic activities

Summary

SB191 creates the HOME Act to help dependents of active-duty military and National Guard/reserve members who home-school by allowing facility use, ensuring needed services, and protecting participation in school activities.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, it allows home-schooled dependents of military families to use public school facilities and equipment under specific conditions and requires schools to provide special education services if the student has disabilities. It requires military parents to notify the local superintendent of their intent to home-school and to comply with state home-schooling laws. It also strengthens protection for these students’ participation in interscholastic activities and athletics, and directs the State Board of Education to adopt implementing rules.

Who It Affects

• Dependents of active-duty or National Guard/reserve military parents who choose home schooling; they may access public school facilities, receive special education services if needed, and participate in interscholastic activities under defined conditions.
• Local school systems, school principals, and school boards; they must authorize facility use, provide appropriate services, adopt rules to implement the act, and enforce athletic eligibility protections for affected students.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Home Schooling Opportunities for Military Education (HOME) Act and applies to active-duty and reserve members with a bona fide change of station.
• Requires military parents to notify the local superintendent of their intention to home-school and to comply with state home-schooling laws.
• Allows home-school dependents to use public school facilities and equipment under conditions: no disruption to activities, principal approval, no added expense to the school, related to the academic program, and supervision for hazardous areas.
• Requires local school systems to provide special education and related services to home-school students with disabilities who are dependents of military members.
• State Board of Education to adopt rules necessary to implement the act.
• Amends Section 16-1-52.1 to guarantee that dependents of military members performing covered service have eligibility to participate in interscholastic contests and activities, with documentation as needed to substantiate moves.
• Prohibits denial of participation in interscholastic activities for high school equivalency students, home-school students, or charter school students whose parent is in covered military service, provided they meet other requirements (excluding class attendance).
• Effective date: July 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

Education