AL HB469

Establishes qualified depositories for textbooks as in-state facilities responsible for receiving orders from boards of education, storing sufficient quantities, and distributing textbooks to local school systems.

Prohibits qualified depositories from charging boards of education for services but authorizes them to negotiate fees directly with textbook publishers.

Requires textbook publishers to maintain sufficient stock at qualified depositories and use them when requested by local boards, while allowing publishers to sell directly; prohibits publishers from refusing sales through qualified depositories.

Caps textbook prices at levels prescribed by existing law regardless of whether sales occur through qualified depositories or direct sales by publishers.

Clarifies that "textbooks" includes digital textbooks for purposes of public school textbook purchasing, adoption, and recommendation processes.