Alabama legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Alabama SB5: Public K-12 schools, broadcast of the Star-Spangled Banner required weekly, proposed statewide constitutional amendment
Status: Signed into law, April 13, 2026
What the bill says
An Act, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast or sanction the performance of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.
From the enrolled text:
An Act, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast or sanction the performance of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA: Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares the following: (1) During the Battle of Baltimore of the War of 1812, Francis Scott Key visited the British fleet in the Chesapeake Bay on September 7, 1814, to secure the release of Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured after the British burned Washington, D.C. (2) The release of Dr. Beanes was secured, but Key and Beanes were held by the British during the shelling of Fort McHenry, one of the forts defending Baltimore. (3) On the morning of September 14, 1814, after the 25-hour British bombardment of Fort McHenry, Key peered through the clearing smoke to see a 42-foot by 30-foot American flag flying proudly atop the fort. (4) He was so inspired to see the enormous flag still flying over the fort that he began penning a song, which he named The Defence of Fort McHenry, to commemorate the occasion, and he included a note that it should be sung to the Page occasion, …
Sponsors
- Gerald Allen (R, SD-021) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : Enacted
- : Sent to Secretary of State
- : Delivered to Governor
- : Signature Requested
- : Enrolled
- : Ready to Enroll
- : Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1353
- : Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
- : Reported Out of Committee Second House
- : Pending Committee Action in Second House
Votes
- House Roll Call #1353 (April 9, 2026): 75 yea, 27 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call #692 (March 4, 2026): 23 yea, 5 nay, passed
- Senate Roll Call #691 (March 4, 2026): 6 yea, 17 nay, failed
- Senate Roll Call #690 (March 4, 2026): 23 yea, 5 nay, passed
Subjects: Constitutional Amendments Statewide
Common questions
- What is SB5?
- SB5 is a bill in the Alabama Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Public K-12 schools, broadcast of the Star-Spangled Banner required weekly, proposed statewide constitutional amendment.
- What does SB5 do?
- In its own words: An Act, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast or sanction the performance of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.
- What is the status of SB5?
- Signed into law as of April 13, 2026. Latest action: Enacted (April 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB5?
- Gerald Allen (R, SD-021).
- Where is the official record for SB5?
- On the Alabama Legislature website: https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/instrument/2026RS/SB5
Source: official Alabama record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.