Bill > HB172

This bill appropriates $133,000,000 from the Educational Opportunities Reserve Fund for fiscal year 2026, allocating funds to multiple education and workforce development entities. The State Department of Education receives $100,000,000, which will be distributed through three key methods: $40,000,000 based on students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, $20,000,000 for county boards of education in very sparsely populated counties (less than 50 residents per square mile), and $40,000,000 distributed based on Special Education student populations. The Alabama Department of Workforce receives $18,000,000, with $15,000,000 designated for workforce development partnerships with smaller four-year universities and $3,000,000 for partnerships with the Alabama Community College System to create career pathway and training programs. Additionally, $15,000,000 is allocated to higher education research institutions with over $100,000,000 in annual research expenditures, specifically naming Auburn University, University of Alabama, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and University of Alabama in Huntsville as recipients. The bill also includes a provision that any unexpended funds from the previous fiscal year (ending September 30, 2025) can be reappropriated to the respective agencies, and the act will become effective on October 1, 2025.