Public high schools; students excused from class for scholarship acceptance, college commitment, military enlistment

Plain English Breakdown

The official text confirms all claims made in the candidate explanation regarding excused absences, required accommodations (space, internet, seating), guest attendance rules, and principal authority.

Excusing High School Students for National Signing Day Events

This law requires public high schools to excuse students from class on specific days when they sign commitment letters for athletic scholarships, college offers, apprenticeships, or military enlistment.

What This Bill Does

• Requires schools to excuse students who are signing commitment letters during National Signing Day activities related to athletic scholarships, postsecondary school education, university programs, and apprenticeship training.
• Includes excusing students who sign up for military enlistment as part of these events.
• Mandates that schools provide meeting space with internet access and seating that does not interfere with regular instruction.
• Allows guests to attend if local board policies permit it.
• Gives school principals the power to excuse other students from class so they can watch the event.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public high schools in Alabama
• High school students signing commitment letters for scholarships, college, apprenticeships, or military service
• School principals who decide if other students may be excused to attend

Terms To Know

National Signing Day

A specific day when high school athletes and others sign official letters committing to colleges, universities, or military service.

Apprenticeship program

A training plan where a person learns a skilled trade by working under the guidance of experienced workers.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not specify how many students may be excused at one time.
• Guest attendance depends on rules set by each local school board, which are not detailed in this bill.
• Schools must provide space that does not interfere with regular instruction, but the exact size or location of the room is not defined.

Official Summary Text

This act: (1) requires high school students who sign commitment letters as part of the National Signing Day for athletic scholarships, postsecondary school, university, or apprenticeship program commitments, and military enlistments to be excused from class; (2) requires schools to provide meeting space with internet access and seating; and (3) authorizes other students to be excused from class and guests to attend.

Current Bill Text

HB75 ENROLLED
Page 0
HB75
11S4JLZ-3
By Representative Robertson
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 02-Dec-25
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HB75 Enrolled
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PFD: 02-Dec-25
Enrolled, An Act,
Relating to public high schools; to require high
schools to excuse students from class to participate in
National Signing Day activities related to the acceptance of
athletic scholarships, postsecondary school educational
commitments, apprenticeship programs, and military
enlistments; and to provide reasonable accommodations for
those activities.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) High school students who sign commitment
letters at a ceremony during instructional time at school as
part of organized National Signing Day activities related to
the acceptance of athletic scholarships, postsecondary school
or university educational commitments, commitments to
apprenticeship programs, and military enlistments shall be
excused from class.
(b) For activities conducted pursuant to subsection
(a):
(1) A school shall provide reasonable accommodations.
For purposes of this subdivision, reasonable accommodations
shall include, but not be limited to, meeting space with
Internet connectivity access and seating, the use of which
will not interfere with instruction;
(2) Guests may attend subject to local board of
education policy; and
(3) A school principal may excuse other students to
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HB75 Enrolled
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(3) A school principal may excuse other students to
attend.
Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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HB75 Enrolled
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1, 2026.
________________________________________________
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 03-Mar-26, as amended.
John Treadwell
Clerk
Senate 07-Apr-26 Amended and Passed
House 07-Apr-26 Concurred in Senate
Amendment
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