Status Update: Alabama House Bill 98 (HB98)

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Alabama House Bill 98, a proposal to create a statewide college scholarship program for the dependents of law enforcement officers, continues to move steadily through the Legislature after receiving overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.

HB98, sponsored by Rep. Allen Treadaway (R‑Morris), would establish the Alabama Law Enforcement Officers' Family Scholarship Program, offering up to $3,000 per academic term to eligible spouses and children of long‑serving law enforcement officers. The bill is part of a broader public‑safety agenda that has drawn strong backing from both lawmakers and law enforcement advocates.

House Passage

The House approved HB98 on February 26, 2026, with unanimous support. The chamber adopted the bill on a 95–0 vote, with only a handful of members marked absent or not voting. The strong margin reflects the broad appeal of the measure, which lawmakers described as a long‑overdue recognition of the sacrifices made by law enforcement families.

Senate Progress

After clearing the House, HB98 moved to the Senate, where it has continued to advance:

• February 26, 2026: Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee.

• April 1, 2026: Reported out of committee with a 1st Substitute and placed on the Senate calendar for consideration.

• April 7, 2026: Passed the Alabama Senate and headed to the Governor's desk

What the Bill Would Do

If enacted, HB98 would:

• Provide tuition, fees, and required course materials for up to eight semesters or 16 quarters.

• Cover dependents under age 27 and current or surviving spouses who meet residency requirements.

• Require officers to have 7 years with one agency or 12 years across multiple agencies.

• Fund the program through a combination of Education Trust Fund appropriations (up to $10 million annually) and revenue from a new blackout specialty license plate.

What Comes Next

HB98 awaits consideration by Governor Kay Ivey. This legislation was originally part of her 2025 legislative back the blue agenda but perished in partisan chaos on the last day of the 2025 legislation session. Ivey is expected to sign it into law.

(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)