Legislature passes Paperwork Streamlining Act

May 6, 2025 – the Alabama Legislature passed the Teachers Paperwork Streamlining Act.

Senate Bill 280 (SB280) is sponsored by Senator Arthur Orr (R-Decatur). It is carried in the House by State Representative Terri Collins (R-Decatur).

The House adopted a substitute version of SB280 that they prepared in Collins' Education Policy Committee.

"What we are talking about is reducing the load on individual teachers," said Collins. "What this is doing, for the individual teacher - we want to keep them from not having to put the same data in over and over again."

"How does that work," said Rep. Napoleon Bracy (D-Prichard).

"We are wanting for every teacher as much as possible to be able to streamline any paperwork they have as much as possible," said Collins. "ARI has been offering it (the training) all around."

"We need to make sure that the technology is up to date and running," said Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham). "I do appreciate the transition; but I hope that it is done in a way that is not overwhelming."

"Accountability is very important in our schools," said Rep. Alan Baker (R-Brewton). "This bill is a strong step in reducing some redundancy is the bureaucracy. I really appreciate the bill and the sub as well."

Rep. Bob Fincher (R-Woodland) said that, "What you are dealing with here is one of the greatest complaints that I hear from teachers. That the burgeoning paperwork swamps them and takes up every minute of free time that they have."

According to the synopsis, "Relating to public K-12 education; to create the Alabama Teacher Paperwork Streamlining Act; to require the State Department of Education to develop a unified digital platform and a system of data sharing that consolidates documentation required by the Alabama Literacy Act, the Alabama Numeracy Act, other laws or policies where paperwork may be reduced or streamlined in a compliant manner, and other educational programs; to provide for a statewide teacher advisory committee; to require compliance, and to repeal Section 16-6B-11, Code of Alabama 1975, providing for the creation and operation of the Paperwork Reduction Committee."

Collins offered an amendment to reduce redundancy in the streamlining effort.

"We want to take into account the efforts that they have already been making in streamlining," Collins said explaining the amendment.

Collins explained that the actual streamlining of the documentation would have to be approved by the Alabama Literacy Task Force and the Alabama Numeracy Task Force.

"We want them to take into consideration the streamlining efforts that have been ongoing for the last two years," said Collins.

The floor amendment was adopted in a 59 to 35 vote.

SB280 as substituted and amended passed the House of Representatives 101 to 0.

It then returned to the Senate, where Senator Orr urged the body to concur with the House changes. The Senate voted to concur on a 27 to 0 vote.

The bill is now awaiting the signature of the governor.

The Legislature will return for the final day of the 2025 legislative session on Wednesday, May 13.