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HB221 • 2026

Education; broadcast of public K-12 school sporting events further provided for

Education; broadcast of public K-12 school sporting events further provided for

Education
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Paramore
Last action
2026-01-14
Official status
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states this act becomes effective on October 1, 2026, but does not specify if it applies retroactively to events before that date.

HB221: School Authority Over Sports Broadcasts

This bill gives public K-12 schools in Alabama the sole authority to decide which media organizations can broadcast their regular season and post-season sporting events.

What This Bill Does

  • Expands school authority from just regular season games to include all post-season events, such as playoffs and championships.
  • Gives each public K-12 school the only power to choose which media groups are allowed to cover or broadcast their sports events.
  • Allows schools to sign contracts for broadcasting rights for both regular season and post-season sporting events.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public K-12 schools in Alabama
  • Media organizations that report on high school sports

Terms To Know

Broadcast
To transmit or show video, audio, or photos using televisions, radios, computers, or other internet-enabled devices.
Media Organization
A newspaper, news wire, radio station, TV station, network, website, or similar group that regularly publishes print, digital, or audio media.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not explain the specific process schools must use to choose between different media groups.
  • It is unclear if this law applies to private school sports events since it only mentions public K-12 schools.
  • No details are given about what happens if a school and a media group disagree on contract terms.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-14 House

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  2. 2026-01-14 House

    Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy

Official Summary Text

Education; broadcast of public K-12 school sporting events further provided for

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
HB221 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB221
AR8XM77-1
By Representative Paramore
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 14-Jan-26
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AR8XM77-1 01/13/2026 OW (L)ccr 2026-186
Page 1
First Read: 14-Jan-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, public K-12 schools have the
sole authority for selecting which media organizations
may broadcast regular season sporting events.
This bill would expand that authority to include
the broadcast of all post regular season sporting
events.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to education; to amend Section 16-1-53, Code
of Alabama 1975; to further provide for the sole authority of
a public K-12 school to determine which media organizations
may broadcast post regular season sporting events.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 16-1-53, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§16-1-53
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following
terms have the following meanings:
(1) BROADCAST. To transmit or exhibit video or, audio ,
or photographs in any medium or manner accessible by
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HB221 INTRODUCED
Page 2
or photographs in any medium or manner accessible by
televisions, radios, computers, or other Internet enabled
devices.
(2) COVER. To observe for reporting purposes and
conduct broadcasts of the event being reported.
(3) MEDIA ORGANIZATION. A newspaper, news wire, radio
station, television station, television network, website, or
other organization that publishes or broadcasts, at regular
intervals, print, digital, or audio media.
(b)(1) No Except as provided in subdivision (2), no
individual, firm, corporation, or association shall interfere
with or restrict in any manner the ability of media
organizations to cover or broadcast, in any form or format,
regular season and post regular season sporting events ,
including, without limitation, all playoffs and championships
involving K-12 schools.
(2) Each school, grades K through 12, shall have the
sole authority to determine which media organization or media
organizations are permitted to cover or broadcast a regular
season and post regular season sporting event , including,
without limitation, all playoffs and championships, and to
contract for the broadcast of regular and post regular season
sporting events involving that school."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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