Garrett reappointed chair of Alabama House education budget committee

House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter has reappointed Representative Danny Garrett, R-Trussville, as chairman of the House Ways and Means Education Committee.

The House Ways and Means Education Committee is charged with the development of the Education Trust Fund Budget, which is the primary funding source for the state’s K-12 schools, community colleges, and public colleges and universities.

Garrett was first appointed to this post in 2021 and has since led the committee through five record-setting budget cycles that have served as a catalyst for Alabama’s nation-leading gains in public education. In 2025, he played a role in the development and eventual enactment of the CHOOSE Act, which has since allowed some 35,000 students in Alabama to enroll in schools that best fit their needs and recently earned Alabama a top 10 ranking in "educational freedom," according to the speaker's press release.

“The last four years have been the most transformative period in state history for public education, and much of that success can be directly traced back to Chairman Garrett’s leadership,” Ledbetter said. “Under his steady hand, the Education Trust Fund Budget has never been stronger and has positioned our state to continue making historic investments while carrying zero debt. Simply put, I believe Chairman Garrett is one of the best state budget chairmen in the country, and Alabama is stronger because of his willingness to serve.”

Garrett has been an advocate for increasing teacher pay and benefits. Since his first budget cycle as chairman in 2022, teachers have received four pay raises, culminating in Alabama now having the highest starting salary for teachers among neighboring states. He also played an integral role in delivering one of the nation’s top state-funded paid parental leave programs in 2025.

“It is an honor to serve the people of Alabama in this vital capacity, and I am grateful for the trust Speaker Ledbetter has placed in me to continue delivering for our state’s students,” Garrett said. “For the first time in our state’s history, Alabama is leading the nation in learning gains while setting a strong example for others to follow, and that starts with conservative budgeting in our committee. At the end of the day, every decision we make is guided by the fact that this is not the state government’s money—it belongs to Alabama’s children, and I remain committed to ensuring it is spent in a manner that gives them the best possible opportunity to succeed.”