AlabamaSchool boards may allow volunteer chaplains in public schools
Alabama law lets public school boards and charter school governing bodies vote on accepting trained, screened volunteer chaplains, who may help when teachers request support.
What it does
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, local school boards and charter school governing bodies may vote on whether their schools can accept volunteer chaplains. If approved, chaplains may provide support, services, or programs at a teacher’s request.
Volunteer chaplains must complete recognized training and meet criminal-history check requirements before starting. Schools may not accept anyone adjudicated or convicted of an offense that requires sex-offender registration.
Argument forTeachers could request support, services, or programs from volunteer chaplains, giving schools another way to respond to their requests.
Argument againstFamilies who want school support to stay secular may worry that teacher-requested chaplain services bring religious roles into public schools.
More detail
Each local school board and charter school governing body may take a recorded vote on whether to allow its schools to accept volunteer chaplains. This applies to public K–12 schools and public charter schools under each governing body’s authority. If the governing body votes to allow chaplains, a chaplain may provide support, services, and programs at a teacher’s request. The option to vote begins with the 2026–2027 school year. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Schools that accept volunteer chaplains must ensure they meet the training and screening rules before they begin. These rules apply to campus chaplains volunteering at public K–12 schools and public charter schools under this act. A volunteer chaplain does not need State Board of Education certification. The chaplain must complete a recognized chaplain training program and comply with criminal-history check requirements. A school may not accept a chaplain who has been adjudicated or convicted of an offense that requires sex-offender registration. The criminal-history check requirements must be met before the chaplain begins volunteering.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 16EnactedBecame Law
- Apr 8Signature Requested
- Apr 8Delivered to GovernorTo Governor
- Apr 7Third Reading in Second House
- Vote recorded Third Reading in Second House. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1190. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 7Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1190Passed Senate
- Apr 7Ready to Enroll
- Apr 7Enrolled
- Apr 1Reported Out of Committee Second House
- Apr 1Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Education Policy)Minor
- Feb 25Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education PolicyMinor
- Feb 25Pending Committee Action in Second House (Education Policy)
- Feb 24Third Reading in House of Origin
- Vote recorded Third Reading in House of Origin. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 533. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Gidley motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 532. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 531. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Gidley 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Feb 24Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 531Major
- Feb 24Lands 1st Amendment OfferedMinor
- Feb 24Gidley motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 532Major
- Feb 24Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 533Passed House
- Feb 24Engrossed
- Feb 5Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar (Education Policy)Minor
- Feb 4Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
- Jan 13Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education PolicyMinor
- Jan 13Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)
- 2025
- Jun 25FiledIntroduced
Education