This amendment gives a 2% pay raise starting in the 2026-2027 school year to public school teachers, support staff, and employees of special state schools, while also creating a one-time bonus for certain retired teachers.
Alabama2026Enacted
HB239
HB239: Teacher Pay Raise and Retiree Bonus
Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 9:06 AM
In one sentence
This law provides a 2% pay raise for certain public education employees starting in fiscal year 2026-2027 and gives a one-time bonus to eligible retirees based on their years of service.
What it does
- Requires a 2% salary increase for certified K-12 teachers beginning with the fiscal year that starts on October 1, 2026.
- Mandates a 2% pay raise for education support staff and bus drivers in public schools starting in the same time period, except for employees covered under the state Merit System at the Department of Youth Services School District.
- Directs two-year community colleges to increase all employee salary schedules by 2 percent for the 2026-2027 school year.
- Provides a one-time lump-sum payment to retirees and beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System equal to $1 per month for each year of service.
- Updates state minimum salary charts so that every step reflects the new higher pay amounts.
Who it affects
- Certificated teachers at city, county, and special education school systems including the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.
- Education support workers such as bus drivers in public schools, excluding those covered under the state Merit System at the Department of Youth Services School District.
- Employees of two-year postsecondary institutions within the Alabama Community College System.
- Retired members and beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System.
Limits and unknowns
- The law states that the actual money for these raises must be included in a future annual budget act.
- Employees covered under the state Merit System at the Department of Youth Services School District are excluded from certain support staff pay increases.
- No employee at two-year postsecondary institutions may receive a total increase greater than 2 percent.
Plain language
Terms to know
- Fiscal Year
- The government's one-year budget period, which for this bill begins on October 1, 2026.
- Certificated Personnel
- Employees who hold a professional teaching certificate or license required by the state to teach in public schools.
- Longevity Bonus
- A one-time payment given to retirees based on how many years they worked before retiring, calculated as $1 per month for each year of service.
Official record
Sources
Official summary
This act: (1) provides a 2 percent pay increase to certain public education employees beginning with fiscal year 2026-2027; and (2) provides a one-time lump-sum longevity bonus to certain retirees and beneficiaries of the Teachers' Retirement System in the amount of $1 per month for each year of service.
Official activity
Bill history
- EnactedHouse
- Delivered to GovernorHouse
- Signature RequestedSenate
- Collins Motion to Concur In and Adopt Senate Amendment - Adopted Roll Call 1244 (Yeas 102, Nays 0)House
- EnrolledHouse
- Ready to EnrollHouse
- Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 1110 (Yeas 33, Nays 0)Senate
- Orr motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 1109 (Yeas 33, Nays 0)Senate
- Third Reading in Second House (Yeas 33, Nays 0)Senate
- Orr 1st Substitute OfferedSenate
- Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarSenate
- Reported Out of Committee Second HouseSenate
- Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 879 (Yeas 104, Nays 0)House
- Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 103, Nays 0)House
- Pending Committee Action in Second HouseSenate
- Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and Taxation EducationSenate
- Read for the Second Time and placed on the CalendarHouse
- Reported Out of Committee House of OriginHouse
- Pending Committee Action in House of OriginHouse
- Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means EducationHouse
Changes
Amendments
1 stored