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SB76 • 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
Carnley
Last action
2026-01-13
Official status
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text states the effective date is October 1, 2026, but metadata shows 'Pending Committee Action,' creating uncertainty about whether it will pass before then.

SB76: 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 post-season sporting events.

What This Bill Does

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

Who It Names or Affects

  • Public K-12 schools in Alabama
  • Media organizations, including newspapers, radio stations, TV networks, websites, and news wires

Terms To Know

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

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.
  • The text does not state what happens if a disagreement occurs over contract terms.

Bill History

  1. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

  2. 2026-01-13 Senate

    Read for the first time and referred to the Senate 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 
SB76 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB76
5V129MM-1
By Senator Carnley
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 13-Jan-26
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5V129MM-1 01/13/2026 OW (L)cr 2026-75
Page 1
First Read: 13-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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SB76 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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