Alabama
UpcomingAct 2026-169 · Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act
Sets an early-childhood screen-use framework, including limits, supervised use and prohibitions on passive/background screens.
- Jurisdiction
- Alabama · State / DC
- Policy status
- Enacted · future start
- Implementation phase
- Upcoming
- Requirement
- Required
- Grades
- Public kindergarten; covered pre-K and childcare
- Audience
- Schools / students
- Learning evidence
- No student-learning claim
- Instrument
- Official implementation summary
Dates & implementation
Adopted / approved
Mar 4, 2026
Legal start
Jan 1, 2027
Covered programs must implement screen-time policies from January 1, 2027.
A legal effective date can precede school implementation. This record documents policy intent or requirements; it does not independently confirm delivery in every classroom.
Exceptions & instructional scope
IEP, 504 and health plans; required kindergarten diagnostics; approved virtual programs.
Learning connection: Requires annual training on screen standards and alternatives for supervising staff.
Funding & support
Support provision; funding not confirmed
Training requirement documented; a dedicated appropriation or district award was not verified.
Read funding sourceEvidence & source location
Pages 1–2: effective date, coverage, duties and exceptions.
Additional official sources: https://governor.alabama.gov/newsroom/2026/03/governor-ivey-signs-screen-time-limits-for-early-childhood-education-programs-into-law/
Review history
Reviewed against official sources
Source availability checked Oct 4, 2026: Source reopened. This is separate from verification of the policy claim below.
Source review date recorded in database: 2026-10-04
2026-10-04 — Official source scope, grades, status, exceptions and timeline reviewed for the historical register and reconciled with the main inventory. Independent review pending.
Record ID: AL-2026-ACT169
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