Alabama House Bill HB173

Alabama 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/25
• Refer: 2/5/25

Caption

Tuskegee University, appropriation

Summary

HB173 appropriates $15,816,579 from Alabama’s Education Trust Fund to Tuskegee University for fiscal year 2026 to support and maintain the university’s educational program. The bill specifies that at least $2,000,000 of the appropriation must be used for the agricultural research and extension service state match. The bill also sets out conditions for receiving the funds. Before any money is released, Tuskegee University must submit an operations plan for fiscal year 2026 with goals and measurable performance indicators, along with an audited financial statement for fiscal year 2024. The bill further requires quarterly expenditure and accomplishment reports and an end-of-year performance report to the Director of Finance, who must forward the reports to the Legislative Council.

Impact

HB173 would create a one-year Education Trust Fund appropriation to Tuskegee University and impose reporting and oversight requirements tied to the release and monitoring of those funds. It references and incorporates state budget-control provisions, including the Budget and Financial Control Act and the Budget Management Act, and treats the appropriation as support for public education in Alabama. The bill would not broadly amend education statutes, but it would direct state funds to a specific institution and condition those funds on compliance with state financial reporting and performance requirements.

Sentiment

The available context shows no recorded committee debate or votes, so there is no documented opposition or support in the transcript materials. The bill’s text itself presents a favorable view of Tuskegee University, emphasizing its unique historical and governance relationship with the State of Alabama and its longstanding receipt of legislative appropriations. Overall, the measure appears to be a routine but significant funding bill with accountability provisions rather than a controversial policy change.

Contention

The main substantive issue embedded in the bill is the size and special treatment of the appropriation for Tuskegee University, which the bill justifies as distinct from funding for private colleges and public universities. Another potential point of attention is the requirement that at least $2,000,000 be used for the agricultural research and extension service state match, which may affect how the university allocates the funds. The reporting and audit requirements could also be a point of administrative concern, but no explicit objections are reflected in the provided materials.