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HB511 • 2026

Public K-12 education; Pledge of Allegiance and prayer required each day, constitutional amendment

Education Elections

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor: Ingram
Last action: 2026-04-09
Official status: Enacted
Effective date: Contingent

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Pledge of Allegiance and Prayer in Schools

This law proposes a constitutional amendment requiring Alabama public K-12 schools to conduct the Pledge of Allegiance each day and allowing student-led prayer, while permitting students to opt out based on their beliefs.

What This Bill Does

Requires local school boards to adopt policies for daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of every school day.
Allows local school boards to create policies that permit voluntary student-initiated and led prayer in schools, but no student must take part if they don't want to.
Gives students the right to opt out of participating in the Pledge or prayer based on their own beliefs.

Who It Names or Affects

Public K-12 school students
Local boards of education

Terms To Know

Constitutional amendment: A change to a country's constitution that needs approval from voters.
Opt out: To choose not to take part in something.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill will only become law if it is approved by the majority of Alabama voters.
It does not specify what happens if a student chooses to opt out of the Pledge or prayer.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

FKVHWDC-1

R 812

Adopted

Plain English: FKVHWDC-1 03/03/2026 GP (L)lg 2026-1171 SUB HB511 STATE GOVERNMENT SUBSTITUTE TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SELLS Page 1 SYNOPSIS: This bill would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, relating to public K-12 schools, to require each local board of education to adopt a policy requiring that The Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer be conducted at the commencement of each school day in each public K-12 school.

FKVHWDC-1 03/03/2026 GP (L)lg 2026-1171 SUB HB511 STATE GOVERNMENT SUBSTITUTE TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SELLS Page 1 SYNOPSIS: This bill would propose an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, relating to public K-12 schools, to require each local board of education to adopt a policy requiring that The Pledge of Allegiance and a prayer be conducted at the commencement of each school day in each public K-12 school.
This bill would authorize violations of this amendment to be reported to and investigated by the State Superintendent of Education.
This bill would require the State Superintendent of Education, upon a determination that a local board of education or public school has shown a continued pattern of intentional refusal to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance and prayer in accordance with this amendment, to withhold 25 percent of state funding allocated to the applicable local board of education.
This bill would also authorize the Legislature to further reduce the funding to a local board of education following continued violations.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

BYK33J4-1

R 813

Adopted

Plain English: BYK33J4-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST FAULKNER AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE FAULKNER Page 1 Replace lines 33 through 39 on page 2 with the following: policies requiring each public K-12 school to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag each day; to authorize local boards of education to adopt policies allowing student-initiated and student-led prayer to be conducted in public K-12 schools; to provide for the report and investigation of violations; and to authorize the State Superintendent of Education to take appropriate action against certain offending local boards of education.

BYK33J4-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST FAULKNER AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE FAULKNER Page 1 Replace lines 33 through 39 on page 2 with the following: policies requiring each public K-12 school to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag each day; to authorize local boards of education to adopt policies allowing student-initiated and student-led prayer to be conducted in public K-12 schools; to provide for the report and investigation of violations; and to authorize the State Superintendent of Education to take appropriate action against certain offending local boards of education.
Replace lines 46 through 48 on page 2 with the following: the beginning of each school day, to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance to the United Replace lines 52 through 56 on page 2 with the following: (b) Each local board of education shall adopt a policy requiring each public K-12 school under its jurisdiction to allow a prayer to be conducted, provided that: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 BYK33J4-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST FAULKNER AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE FAULKNER Page 2 that: (1) The prayer must be initiated by and led by a student; and (2) No student may be required to participate in a prayer.
(c) Any policy adopted by a local board of education pursuant to this section shall ensure that students have the right to opt out of participation in the Pledge of Allegiance or the prayer based on their own beliefs.
(d) Violations of this section may be reported to the Replace lines 67 through 73 on page 3 with the following: Superintendent of Education shall take appropriate action.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

BYKTDJJ-1

R 814 • Ingram

Adopted

Plain English: BYKTDJJ-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST LANDS AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LANDS Page 1 Replace line 55 on page 2 with the following: live.

BYKTDJJ-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST LANDS AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE LANDS Page 1 Replace line 55 on page 2 with the following: live.
A local board of education may conduct a moment of silence to satisfy the requirements of this subdivision.
Replace line 96 on page 4 with the following: prayer, which may be a moment of silence, at the commencement of the first class each school day; 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

RBZ41MM-1

R 815

Adopted

Plain English: RBZ41MM-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST DRUMMOND AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND Page 1 Replace lines 35 through 39 on page 2 with the following: day; and to provide for the report and investigation of violations.

RBZ41MM-1 : 3/10/2026 : GP 1ST DRUMMOND AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND Page 1 Replace lines 35 through 39 on page 2 with the following: day; and to provide for the report and investigation of violations.
Replace lines 58 through 73 on page 3 with the following: education shall review the violation.
Replace lines 95 through 99 on page 4 with the following: Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag at the beginning of each school day; and to require local boards of education to adopt a policy authorizing student-initiated and student-led prayer.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

2JQG1KI-1

R 816 • Ingram

Adopted

Plain English: 2JQG1KI-1 : 3/10/2026 : THR 1ST SELLERS AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SELLERS Page 1 Replace lines 32 through 35 on page 2 with the following: of 2022, to require local boards of education and certain private schools to adopt policies requiring The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag to be conducted each day; to authorize local boards of education and certain private schools to adopt policies allowing student-initiated and student-led prayer to be conducted in public K-12 schools; to provide for the report and investigation of Replace line 56 on page 2 with the following: (b)(1) Each private school enrolling any student who receives tuition dollars pursuant to Chapter 6J of Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975, shall adopt a policy requiring the private school, at the commencement of the first class each school day, to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and give all students the opportunity to voluntarily recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag.

2JQG1KI-1 : 3/10/2026 : THR 1ST SELLERS AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SELLERS Page 1 Replace lines 32 through 35 on page 2 with the following: of 2022, to require local boards of education and certain private schools to adopt policies requiring The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag to be conducted each day; to authorize local boards of education and certain private schools to adopt policies allowing student-initiated and student-led prayer to be conducted in public K-12 schools; to provide for the report and investigation of Replace line 56 on page 2 with the following: (b)(1) Each private school enrolling any student who receives tuition dollars pursuant to Chapter 6J of Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975, shall adopt a policy requiring the private school, at the commencement of the first class each school day, to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag and give all students the opportunity to voluntarily recite The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag.
(2) Each private school enrolling any student who 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2JQG1KI-1 : 3/10/2026 : THR 1ST SELLERS AMENDMENT TO HB511 OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SELLERS Page 2 (2) Each private school enrolling any student who receives tuition dollars pursuant to Chapter 6J of Title 16, Code of Alabama 1975, shall adopt a policy requiring the private school to allow a prayer to be conducted, provided that: a.
The prayer must be initiated by and led by a student; and b.
No student may be required to participate in a prayer.

This amendment summary is using official source text because generated interpretation was skipped for this run.

Bill History

2026-04-09 House
Enacted
2026-04-09 Senate
Signature Requested
2026-04-09 House
Enrolled
2026-04-09 House
Ready to Enroll
2026-04-08 Senate
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1294 (Yeas 30, Nays 0)
2026-03-17 Senate
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-03-17 Senate
Reported Out of Committee Second House
2026-03-11 Senate
Pending Committee Action in Second House
2026-03-11 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy
2026-03-10 House
Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass as Amended - Adopted Roll Call 817 (Yeas 94, Nays 3)
2026-03-10 House
Ingram motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 816 (Yeas 72, Nays 26)
2026-03-10 House
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 815 (Yeas 102, Nays 0)
2026-03-10 House
Ingram motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 814 (Yeas 74, Nays 27)
2026-03-10 House
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 813 (Yeas 96, Nays 0)
2026-03-10 House
Motion to Adopt - Adopted Roll Call 812 (Yeas 88, Nays 0)
2026-03-10 House
Third Reading in House of Origin (Yeas 73, Nays 5)
2026-03-10 House
Engrossed
2026-03-10 House
Datcher intended to vote "Abstain"
2026-03-10 House
Bracy intended to vote "Nay"
2026-03-10 House
Sellers 1st Amendment Offered
2026-03-10 House
Drummond 1st Amendment Offered
2026-03-10 House
Lands 1st Amendment Offered
2026-03-10 House
Faulkner 1st Amendment Offered
2026-03-10 House
State Government 1st Substitute Offered
2026-03-05 House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-03-04 House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-03-04 House
State Government 1st Substitute
2026-02-25 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-02-25 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government

Official Summary Text

This act proposes an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to: (1) require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to conduct the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag at the beginning of each day; (2) require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to allow a student initiated and led prayer so long as no student is required to participate; and (3) require that any policy adopted under this act allows students to opt out of participating based on their own beliefs.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB511 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB511
FKVHWDC-3
By Representative Ingram (Constitutional Amendment)
RFD: State Government
First Read: 25-Feb-26
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HB511 Enrolled
Page 1
First Read: 25-Feb-26
Enrolled, 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 conduct The
Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag each day; to
authorize local boards of education to adopt policies allowing
student-initiated and student-led prayer to be conducted in
public K-12 schools; and to provide for the report and
investigation of violations.
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution
of Alabama of 2022, is proposed:
PROPOSED AMENDMENT
(a) Each local board of education shall adopt a policy
requiring each public K-12 school under its jurisdiction, at
the beginning of each school day, to conduct The Pledge of
Allegiance to the United States flag and give all students the
opportunity to voluntarily recite The Pledge of Allegiance to
the United States flag.
(b) Each local board of education shall adopt a policy
requiring each public K-12 school under its jurisdiction to
allow a prayer to be conducted, provided that:
(1) The prayer must be initiated by and led by a
student; and
(2) No student may be required to participate in a
prayer.
(c) Any policy adopted by a local board of education
pursuant to this section shall ensure that students have the
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HB511 Enrolled
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pursuant to this section shall ensure that students have the
right to opt out of participation in the Pledge of Allegiance
or the prayer based on their own beliefs.
(d) Violations of this section may be reported to the
local superintendent of education. The local superintendent of
education shall review the violation.
Upon ratification of this constitutional amendment, the
Code Commissioner shall number and place this amendment as
appropriate in the constitution omitting this instructional
paragraph and may make the following nonsubstantive revisions:
change capitalization, hierarchy, spelling, and punctuation
for purposes of style and uniformity; correct manifest
grammatical, clerical, and typographical errors; revise
internal or external citations and cross-references; harmonize
language; and translate effective dates.
END OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Section 2. An election upon the proposed amendment
shall be held in accordance with Sections 284 and 285 of the
Constitution of Alabama of 2022, and the election laws of this
state. The appropriate election official shall assign a ballot
number for the proposed constitutional amendment on the
election ballot and shall set forth the following description
of the substance or subject matter of the proposed
constitutional amendment:
"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 recite The
Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag at the
beginning of each school day; and to require local boards of
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HB511 Enrolled
Page 3
beginning of each school day; and to require local boards of
education to adopt a policy authorizing student-initiated and
student-led prayer.
Proposed by Act ____."
This description shall be followed by the following
language:
"Yes( ) No( )."
Section 3. The proposed amendment shall become valid as
a part of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, when approved
by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon.
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HB511 Enrolled
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by a majority of the qualified electors voting thereon.
________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Representatives
________________________________________________
President and Presiding Officer of the Senate
House of Representatives
I hereby certify that the within Act originated in and
was passed by the House 10-Mar-26.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 08-Apr-26 Passed
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