Alabama legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Alabama HB8: Campus chaplains; public K-12 schools authorized to accept as volunteers, local boards of education and governing bodies authorized to vote on whether to allow, limitations provided
Status: Signed into law, April 16, 2026
What the bill says
An Act, Relating to public K-12 education; to allow a public K-12 school or public charter school to accept a campus chaplain who meets certain requirements as a volunteer; to prohibit certain individuals from volunteering as a campus chaplain; and to allow each local board of education and the governing body of each public charter school to vote on whether to allow the volunteer services of a campus chaplain.
From the enrolled text:
An Act, Relating to public K-12 education; to allow a public K-12 school or public charter school to accept a campus chaplain who meets certain requirements as a volunteer; to prohibit certain individuals from volunteering as a campus chaplain; and to allow each local board of education and the governing body of each public charter school to vote on whether to allow the volunteer services of a campus chaplain. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the term "public school" means any public K-12 school or public charter school. (b)(1) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, each local board of education and the governing body of each public charter school may take a recorded vote on whether to adopt a policy authorizing a public school under its jurisdiction to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer under this section. (2) If a local board of education or the governing body of a public charter school votes to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer, a campus chaplain may be made available to provide support, services, and programs at the request of any teacher in the local school district. (c)(1) A campus chaplain volunteering under this section is not required to be certified by the State Board of Education. (2) Each …
Sponsors
- Gidley, Mark (R, HD-029) · primary sponsor
- Hollis, Rolanda (D, HD-058)
- Harrison, Ben (R, HD-002)
- Rigsby, Phillip (R, HD-025)
- DuBose, Susan (R, HD-045)
- Paschal, Kenneth (R, HD-073)
- Hulsey, Leigh (R, HD-015)
- Shaver, Ginny (R, HD-039)
- Colvin, William Brock (R, HD-026)
- Mooney, Arnold (R, HD-043)
- Sellers, Patrick (D, HD-057)
- Standridge, David (R, HD-034)
Latest actions
- : Enacted
- : Delivered to Governor
- : Signature Requested
- : Enrolled
- : Ready to Enroll
- : Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1190
- : Third Reading in Second House
- : Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- : Reported Out of Committee Second House
- : Pending Committee Action in Second House
Votes
- Senate Roll Call #1190 (April 7, 2026): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call #1189 (April 7, 2026): 33 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #533 (February 24, 2026): 91 yea, 7 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #532 (February 24, 2026): 80 yea, 22 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #531 (February 24, 2026): 97 yea, 3 nay, passed
- House Roll Call #530 (February 24, 2026): 93 yea, 4 nay, passed
Subjects: Education
Common questions
- What is HB8?
- HB8 is a bill in the Alabama Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Campus chaplains; public K-12 schools authorized to accept as volunteers, local boards of education and governing bodies authorized to vote on whether to allow, limitations provided.
- What does HB8 do?
- In its own words: An Act, Relating to public K-12 education; to allow a public K-12 school or public charter school to accept a campus chaplain who meets certain requirements as a volunteer; to prohibit certain individuals from volunteering as a campus chaplain; and to allow each local board of education and the governing body of each public charter school to vote on whether to allow the volunteer services of a campus chaplain.
- What is the status of HB8?
- Signed into law as of April 16, 2026. Latest action: Enacted (April 16, 2026).
- Who sponsored HB8?
- Gidley, Mark (R, HD-029), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for HB8?
- On the Alabama Legislature website: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/instrument/2026RS/HB8
Source: official Alabama record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.