Highlights from the state’s early childhood policy advocacy community include:9
SB 102 establishes Presumptive Eligibility for Medicaid. Presumptive Eligibility is a short-term program that enables individuals to receive immediate medical services, and any care received during this period cannot be denied later. With this new law, a pregnant woman will be presumptively eligible for coverage for ambulatory prenatal care under Medicaid if a qualified provider determines on the basis of preliminary information that her household income does not exceed the modified adjusted gross income limit for the eligibility of pregnant women, which is in effect under the state Medicaid plan. In 2023, Alabama had the highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S., and its infant mortality rate is above the national average. Major causes of infant death include birth defects, prematurity, and maternal complications. Early prenatal care can significantly improve health outcomes for both mothers and their babies.
The legislature passed the Renewing Alabama’s Investment in Student Excellence (RAISE) Act (SB 305) and the funding bill, SB 111. The RAISE Act allocates $375 million over three years (fiscal years 2026, 2027 and 2028) to create a new funding system for public K-12 schools aimed at better meeting students’ diverse needs. Before the RAISE Act, Alabama’s funding approach prioritized student numbers over individual needs, widening gaps between wealthy and low-resource areas. Local funding often comes from property taxes, allowing affluent areas to generate more revenue and achieve better student outcomes. Alabama ranks 41st in per-student spending, trailing the national average by $3,820 for fiscal year 2022. This lack of fair funding negatively impacts underserved groups, including low-income families, English language learners, students with disabilities, and students of color. Each year, the RAISE Fund will determine the amount of funding each student group receives based on factors such as poverty, English language learners, charter school students, and gifted students.
In addition to the RAISE Act and increased funding for Alabama’s public K-12 education, other child-serving state agencies received an additional $292.2 million in funding for FY 2026:
State Agency Appropriations from Education Trust Fund
- Early Childhood Education: $213 million, an increase of $12.4 million
- Public Health: $22.1 million, an increase of $2 million
- Human Resources: $106 million, an increase of $7.7 million
- Mental Health: $84 million, an increase of $4.9 million
- Rehabilitation Services: $62.7 million, an increase of $6.4 million
State Agency Appropriations from the General Fund
- Medicaid: $1.18 billion, an increase of $223 million
- Mental Health: $244 million, an increase of $4.7 million
- Human Resources: $149 million, an increase of $2.9 million
- Public Health: $159.4 million, an increase of $28.2 million
House Bill 384 requires corn masa flour to be fortified with folic acid with the goal of reducing spina bifida rates, and will become effective by October 1, 2026.
HB 152 establishes a sales and use tax exemption for certain purchases of diapers, baby supplies, baby formula, maternity clothing, and menstrual hygiene products. The new exemption will apply for three years beginning September 1, 2025, and ending August 31, 2028, when it will be reviewed for effectiveness.
Advocates also successfully helped defeat HB 340, which would have put child safety at risk by requiring the Department of Human Resources (DHR) to inform parents or legal guardians if they were being investigated for suspected child abuse or neglect. Critics, including advocacy group VOICES, were concerned it could lead to increased child abuse and spoke out against the bill during a public hearing and requested it be sent to a subcommittee for more discussion. Despite efforts to amend the bill, time ran out in the 2025 legislative session, and the bill was defeated. Legislators have announced plans to reintroduce it.
In another defensive win, advocates fought HB 367, which would have banned the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and county health departments from using public money to promote vaccines, including public service announcements. Child and health advocates worry that, based on information from the ADPH, this could affect federal funding for the Vaccines For Children (VFC) program. This program provides vaccines to children from families without healthcare coverage who cannot afford them, helping protect kids from preventable diseases.VOICES, along with the Alabama Chapter of the Academy of Pediatrics, the American Lung Association, and Alabama Arise, opposed the bill. They worked to inform the committee chair, members, and Alabama House leaders about how the bill could affect children’s health. As a result, the bill was defeated in the 2025 session.
