Week 12 (Apr 7-9)
Sine Die
The 2026 Legislative Session has officially come to a close—Sine Die. But this year’s ending marks more than just the final gavel. It marks the end of a four-year quadrennium, the close of legislative careers for some members, and the final chapter inside the current Alabama State House building. Since 1985, this building has been the backdrop for countless debates, victories, and setbacks. Originally built in 1963 as the Highway Department, it will soon be demolished as lawmakers prepare to move into a new State House in 2026.
The Good News in Final Week
Despite the ups and downs, we did cross the finish line on three important bills, each were years in the making:
- Sex Education Reform (SB209 Sen. Shelnutt) After more than THREE years of effort, Alabama law will now prohibit sexually graphic and inappropriate materials from being taught to students. This is a major step toward restoring age-appropriate, responsible instruction in our schools.
- Chaplains For Teachers (HB8 Rep. Gidley) Bill requires school boards to make a policy whether to allow volunteer chaplains, who have gone through a recognized chaplains program, to minister to teachers on campus.
- Ten Commandments/Founding Documents Display Bill (SB99 Sen. Kelley) Schools will now be required to display an 11×14 poster featuring the Ten Commandments alongside foundational documents like the Mayflower Compact, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, and Northwest Ordinance. A meaningful reminder of the principles that shaped our nation will now be visible in history classrooms (grades 5-12) and in one common area.
Frustration!
Unfortunately, not everything made it across the finish line. Several strong, conservative bills were lined up on the final day, ready for action—but instead of taking the votes, House and Senate leadership chose to Sine Die early. That means those bills are now dead. After months of work, and in some cases years of advocacy, that’s a tough pill to swallow. These were:
- Increased Penalties For Online Illicit Materials (HB347 Rep. Harrison) Bill would allow web developers or providers to be held civilly liable in certain cases involving illicit material and content generated by publicly accessible nudification apps.
- Protection for Houses of Worship (HB363 Rep. Barnes) Bill mirrors federal law (FACE Act) that protects houses of worship from riots.
- Closed Primaries (HB541 Rep. Yarbrough) Bill would require an elector to be registered with a political party in order to vote that party’s ballot in a primary election or primary runoff election.
We're Transitioning to Other Issues
As this legislative session and an entire era comes to a close in Alabama, we are living in an exciting season for our beloved country. As we celebrate America’s 250th Birthday through our free monthly Family Challenge series, our mission remains strengthening families, preserving the principles that made America great and engaging families in our nation’s founding.
Each free monthly packet, available on our website, includes:
- A new theme highlighting a key founding principle
- A short reading with engaging discussion questions
- Hands-on games inspired by those colonial families once played
- A word search and coloring page for younger children
- And more for the whole family to enjoy together
We encourage you to check them out and complete them with your family each month. It’s one of the most impactful ways we can pass these values on to the next generation.
At the same time, we will continue to grow our Action Groups across the state and remain engaged by monitoring key federal legislation.
Thank you for allowing us to be YOUR voice at the State House.
View Family Challenges
