Rep. DuBose Secures Passage of Parents-First Religious Education Bill

From the Alabama House Republican Caucus

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – State Representative Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) celebrated the passage of SB248 last night, known as the Alabama Religious Released Time bill, which she carried in the House of Representatives. The legislation strengthens parental rights by requiring local boards of education to allow parents to choose whether their child participates in voluntary, off-campus religious instruction during the school day, while preserving full constitutional safeguards, local board authority, and student safety protections.“

Families across Alabama have made clear that they want meaningful options when it comes to their children's education,” said DuBose. “SB248 gives parents who wish to incorporate religious instruction into their child's day a clear pathway to do so. This isabout giving families a choice and trusting them to make it.”

Rep. DuBose, who serves on the House Education Policy Committee and has made parental rights in education a cornerstone of her legislative work. The bill was sponsored in the Senate by Senator Shay Shelnutt. Rep. DuBose carried the companion legislation in the House, building a broad coalition in support of the measure.

“I want to thank Senator Shelnutt for his leadership on this bill and the many parents, faith communities, and local education advocates across the state who supported it. Alabama families who want this option for their children now have a clear, constitutionallysound pathway to access it. That matters.”

SB248 now moves to Governor Kay Ivey for her signature.