Three bills sponsored by Representative Terri Collins, R-Decatur, cleared the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday, advancing legislation aimed at improving early childhood literacy, recruiting teachers and re-engaging the adult workforce. All three pieces of legislation had been introduced in previous sessions.
All three measures received favorable reports without opposition following brief discussion and were sent forward for further consideration by the full House.
House Bill 50
House Bill 50 continues state support for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library program in Alabama, which mails a free book each month to enrolled children from birth until they begin school.
Collins told the committee the program has now reached all 67 counties and operates as a partnership between the state and local sponsors, with a 50 percent local match requirement.
“It’s to promote the love of reading in our young people,” said Collins. “Once a child is born, they receive a book a month until they start school. I’ve heard nothing but positive things about it.”
The bill maintains reporting requirements, including tracking the number of participating children, books distributed and local partners. With no questions from committee members, HB50 received a favorable report by voice vote.
House Bill 124
House Bill 124 broadens the state’s existing loan forgiveness program for educators, currently limited to math, science and computer science teachers, to include other high-need teaching areas.
The program, formerly known as AMSTEP, would be renamed the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators of Alabama to reflect its expanded scope.
Collins said the goal is to better address shifting teacher shortages, particularly in areas like special education.
“We’re not changing the structure of the program,” said Collins. “We’re just broadening the scope so we can use it where the shortages actually are.”
Dr. Jim Purcell, executive director of the Commission of Higher Education, testified that math shortages have improved in recent years due to existing incentives, leaving unused funds in the program. The bill would allow the state to redirect that support to other shortage areas based on vacancy data and certification gaps.
The program focuses on districts where a high percentage of teachers are working outside their certified subject areas. In some counties, officials identified an acute shortage, which means more than 30 percent of teachers are teaching outside their field in certain subjects.
Committee members asked how shortages would be defined and selected. Officials said they rely on vacancy rates and certification data rather than subjective assessments, and that no new funding is being requested.
“This is a loan forgiveness program,” said Purcell. “We’re not paying people to leave the state — we’re helping people who teach in Alabama pay off student loans so they can stay and serve their communities.”
HB124 also received a favorable report without opposition.
House Bill 125
House Bill 125 updates the state’s “Re-Engage” grant program, which provides financial assistance to adults who left college before completing a degree and later return.
Under the original program, eligibility focused on individuals who had been out of school for at least two years but within a narrower age window. The bill modifies eligibility so that individuals who are at least 22 years old and have been out of school for two years can qualify, even if their gap occurred earlier.
“This is a workforce bill. If someone started a degree and didn’t finish, this helps them come back, complete it and re-enter the workforce,” said Collins.
The program applies to those pursuing either associate or bachelor’s degrees and is intended to increase labor force participation by helping people overcome financial barriers to returning to school.
With no questions from the committee, HB125 also received a favorable report.
