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HB659 INTRODUCED
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HB659
ART4R77-1
By Representatives Chestnut, Daniels, Lawrence
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 31-Mar-26
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ART4R77-1 02/24/2026 OW (L)OW 2026-1030
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First Read: 31-Mar-26
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would establish the Bill of Rights in
the Classroom Act.
This bill would require the State Department of
Education to publish a standardized version of the Bill
of Rights for use by local boards of education.
This bill would require the display of the Bill
of Rights in public school classrooms and on the
website of each local board of education.
This bill would authorize parents to report
noncompliance with this act to the local superintendent
of education.
This bill would authorize declaratory and
injunctive relief if the local board of education fails
to cure the alleged violation.
This bill would also permit courts to award
reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing
plaintiff.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to public K-12 education; to establish the
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Relating to public K-12 education; to establish the
Bill of Rights in the Classroom Act; to require the State
Department of Education to publish a standardized version of
the Bill of Rights for use by local boards of education; to
require display of the Bill of Rights in public school
classrooms and on the websites of local boards of education;
to provide a process for the reporting of noncompliant
schools; to provide a remedy for continued noncompliance; and
to permit courts to award reasonable attorney fees and costs.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the Bill of Rights in the Classroom Act.
Section 2. The Legislature finds and declares the
following:
(1) The first 10 amendments to the United States
Constitution, commonly known as the Bill of Rights, enshrine
fundamental protections of individual liberty and limit the
powers of government.
(2) Civic literacy is essential to the preservation of
constitutional self government.
(3) Displaying the Bill of Rights in public school
classrooms serves an educational purpose and reinforces shared
civic principles.
Section 3. For purposes of this act, the following
terms have the following meanings:
(1) BILL OF RIGHTS. The first 10 amendments to the
Constitution of the United States as ratified in 1791.
(2) CLASSROOM. Any room in which public school students
receive regular instructional services.
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receive regular instructional services.
(3) DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Education.
(4) PARENT. A parent or legal guardian of a student
enrolled in a public school.
(5) PUBLIC SCHOOL. Any elementary or secondary school
operated by a public school district or chartered under state
law.
Section 4. (a) On or before January 1, 2027, the
department shall publish a standardized version of the Bill of
Rights for use by local boards of education, which shall
include the full and accurate text of the Bill of Rights.
(b) The text shall consist solely of the official
language of the Bill of Rights without additional commentary,
interpretation, or partisan material.
(c) The department shall make the standardized text
available in printable electronic format at no cost to local
boards of education.
Section 5. Before the 2027-2028 school year, each local
board of education shall post the text of the standardized
version of the Bill of Rights, as published by the department
pursuant to Section 4, in a prominent location on its official
website.
Section 6. (a) Beginning with the 2027-2028 school
year, each local board of education shall display the
standardized version of the Bill of Rights, pursuant to
Section 4, on a poster or framed document in all public school
classrooms.
(b) The poster or framed document required by
subsection (a) shall:
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subsection (a) shall:
(1) Consist solely of the text of the standardized
version of the Bill of Rights, as published by the department
pursuant to Section 4;
(2) Be of sufficient size and clarity to be readable by
students in the classroom; and
(3) Be conspicuously displayed in each classroom.
Section 7. (a) A parent may provide written notice to
the local superintendent of education alleging noncompliance
with this act.
(b) If the local board of education fails to cure the
alleged violation within 30 days after receipt of notice, the
parent may bring an action for declaratory and injunctive
relief in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) A prevailing plaintiff may be awarded reasonable
attorney fees and costs.
Section 8. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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