State lawmakers are once again attempting to require K-12 public schools to broadcast the national anthem at least once a week during school hours.
State Senator Gerald Allen, R-Tuscaloosa, recently prefiled Senate Bill 5 for the 2026 legislative session, a bill which—if passed—would propose a constitutional amendment mandating public schools broadcast or perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” on a weekly basis.
The bill is effectively a re-filing of Senate Bill 13, which Allen introduced during the 2025 session, with the two bills containing nearly identical language. SB13 passed out of the Senate but ultimately failed to receive a vote on the House floor, while companion legislation introduced in the House by Representative Arnold Mooney, R-Indian Springs, never made it out of committee.
Just like SB13, SB5 proposes an amendment to the Alabama State Constitution which would require K-12 public schools to broadcast “any recording of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner that is archived within the Library of Congress,” or alternatively, host a “performance of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner from original sheet music… by a school-sanctioned band program, choral program, vocal group, or vocalist.”
If the state Legislature passes Allen’s bill next year, the proposed amendment would be added to a statewide election ballot for the general public to vote on during a special election or the next general election. If a simple majority of voters approve the amendment during that election, it would then be added to the state constitution and go into effect.
Alabama law currently requires public schools to conduct the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag at the beginning of each school day; however, student participation in reciting the pledge is optional. The language of that law was amended in 2019 to ensure that all schools perform the pledge.
