Public high schools, required to designate time and space for military recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery to students on campus on a voluntary basis

Education

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Simpson
Last action: 2026-01-13
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not specify how effectiveness will be monitored or evaluated.

High Schools Must Allow Military Recruiters to Test Students

This bill requires public high schools to designate one school day during the fall semester for military recruiters to administer the ASVAB test on a voluntary basis.

What This Bill Does

Requires public high schools to designate one school day during the fall semester for military recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) on campus.
Specifies that the ASVAB test must be given on a voluntary basis, meaning students can choose whether or not to participate.

Who It Names or Affects

Public high school students who may want to take the ASVAB test.
Military recruiters who will administer the ASVAB on campus.
High school administrators and staff responsible for scheduling and accommodating the ASVAB testing day.

Terms To Know

ASVAB: Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, a test used by military recruiters to assess students' aptitudes for various military jobs.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if a student wants to take the ASVAB but cannot attend on the designated day.
It is unclear how schools will ensure that all interested students have access to the test during the designated day.

Bill History

2026-01-13 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy

Official Summary Text

Public high schools, required to designate time and space for military recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery to students on campus on a voluntary basis

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB196 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB196
9J21CPM-1
By Representative Simpson
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 13-Jan-26
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9J21CPM-1 10/15/2025 KMS (L)ma 2025-3056
Page 1
First Read: 13-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, public schools are required
to grant access to military recruiters in the same
manner as provided to prospective employers.
This bill would require public high schools to
designate a school day for military recruiters to
administer the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude
Battery (ASVAB), on a voluntary basis, on campus to
students.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to public high schools; to amend Section
16-1-25, Code of Alabama 1975, to require public high schools
to designate a day for military recruiters to administer the
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), on a
voluntary basis, to students on campus.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 16-1-25 of the Code of Alabama 1975,
is amended to read as follows:
"§16-1-25
(a) All city and county public school systems and all
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HB196 INTRODUCED
Page 2
(a) All city and county public school systems and all
public institutions of higher education as defined by Section
16-5-1 and all divisions of public institutions of higher
education shall grant military recruiters of the United States
Armed Forces and United States Department of Homeland Security
the same information and access to students and campus
facilities as the institution grants to prospective employers
of students or to postsecondary institutions.
(b) In addition to the access provided in subsection
(a), all city and county public high schools shall annually
designate one school day during the fall semester for military
recruiters to administer the Armed Services Vocational
Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to students on campus. The high
school shall provide appropriate testing accommodations and
the ASVAB shall be voluntary for students. "
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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