Alabama House votes for constitutional amendment to give option to merge county school systems

March 3, 2026 – MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The Alabama House of Representatives votes to pass a constitutional amendment that would allow county school systems to be folded into a multi-county system.

House Bill 380 (HB380) is sponsored by State Representative Terri Collins (R-Decatur).

HB380 is a statewide constitutional amendment.

"Currently under existing law every county is required to have a school system," Collins explained. "In some of our counties there are less than a thousand students. What this bill would do it would allow systems to combine systems."

Collins believes that there is potential cost savings from combining the administrations of two or more rural counties.

"I think for students it has a lot of potential," said Collins.

Collins emphasized that the state cannot force small school systems to merge it just allows them to do so if they choose to opt in.

"It does not mandate anything," said Collins. "It simply sets up a process where school boards in different counties can choose."

Collins explained that the school boards would merge.

"It would be a multi-county board," said Collins.

Collins said that PARCA (the Public Affairs Research Council of Alabama) is looking at the potential for benefits from doing this.

"PARCA is doing a study this spring on what some of the benefits could be," said Collins.

State Representative Thomas Jackson (D-Thomasville) asked, "Do you think we are top heavy on administration?"

Collins answered, "I do."

Collins said, "They would have a multi system system but one administration, one leadership."

Jackson asked if they would have an elected or appointed superintendent.

"They would work out those details," said Collins.

Collins emphasized that this could only happen if the schools boards agreed to it and then the people voted on it, and the majority voted for it.

Jackson said, "In my experience, they want their own."

Collins said, "There are ten systems with less than a thousand students."

Jackson said, "They are going to lose some jobs."

Collins said, "Chairman Garrett already has a bill to allow municipal systems to merge. That was my inspiration for this."

"The bill requires the Department to do a study on this," continued Collins. "I am trying to get more funding back into the classroom."

Jackson said, "I am not going to filibuster your bill."

Collins said, "PARCA has talked about doing some research on it so that we will have some data before we vote on it this fall."

Rep. Travis said, "Some systems have elected superintendents and some you don't. Some systems have differences between the mills. Oftentimes in a small system there is a perso in administration that wears multiple hats."

Collins said that if school boards wanted to do this there would be, "Thirty days for everybody to review. There is also a provision if there is a lot of opposition."

Rep. Juandalynn Givan (D-Birmingham) said, "Give me some clarity with this bill."

Collins said, "It is simply a permissive bill."

"Several of those are very small counties," said Collins. "Everybody would still have representation on a multi-county board."

Givan said, "I don't see anybody doing this."

Collins answered, "And they might not."

"I could not image a school system, or a board opting to opt out of being their own system," said Givan. "They would no longer be their own school board, they would no longer have their own meetings. All things could happen, but I don't believe this will."

Collins answered, "If nobody does it then nothing changes."

"What happens to the board in existence if you make that decision," asked Givan.

"I would imagine that some or most of those people would be on the new board," said Collins.

HB380 passed the House of Representatives on a bipartisan vote of 96 to 2.

It now moves to the Senate for their consideration. Since HB380 is a constitutional amendment if it passes the people of the state would vote to ratify it or not in the November general election ballot.

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