HB178 Summary

• Requires each Alabama local board of education to display a poster or framed document (minimum 11 by 14 inches) containing the Ten Commandments and information about America's founding documents beginning January 1, 2026.

• Mandates displays in school entry ways or common areas (such as cafeterias or libraries) and in classrooms where United States history is routinely taught, subject to availability of donated funds or displays.

• Specifies that the poster must include the Ten Commandments, a statement acknowledging their historical role in shaping American civil society, and references to the Mayflower Compact, Northwest Ordinance, Declaration of Independence, and U.S. Constitution.

• Prohibits the requirement from creating an unfunded mandate; local boards may accept donated funds or donated displays to comply, and the State Department of Education must identify and list free resources on its website.

• Becomes effective October 1, 2025, and authorizes the State Board of Education to adopt rules for implementation.