Alabama Require National Anthem Be Played in Schools Amendment (2026)
| Alabama Require National Anthem Be Played in Schools Amendment | |
|---|---|
|
|
|
| Election date |
|
| Topic State flags, symbols, and holidays |
|
| Status Proposed |
|
| Type |
|
The Alabama Require National Anthem Be Played in Schools Amendment (2026) may be on the ballot in Alabama as a legislatively referred constitutional amendment on November 3, 2026.
The amendment would require all public schools to broadcast or arrange for the performance of the first stanza of the national anthem at least once per week.[1]
Text of measure
Ballot title
The official ballot title is as follows:[1]
| “ | Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, to require local boards of education to adopt policies requiring each public K-12 school to broadcast or sanction the performance of the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once per week during school hours.[2] | ” |
Full text
The full text of the amendment can be read here.
Path to the ballot
A 60% vote is required from both chambers of the Alabama State Legislature during one legislative session to place a constitutional amendment on the ballot. That amounts to a minimum of 63 votes in the Alabama House of Representatives and 21 votes in the Alabama State Senate, assuming no vacancies. Amendments do not require the governor's signature to be referred to the ballot.
Senate Bill 5
The following is a timeline of the amendment in the state legislature:[3]
- February 5, 2026: State Sen. Gerald Allen (R-21) introduced the measure to the state Senate as Senate Bill 5 (SB5).
- March 3, 2026: The state Senate approved SB5 in a vote of 23-5. Twenty-three Republicans voted yes, and five Democrats voted no. Four Republicans and three Democrats did not vote.
| Votes Required to Pass: 21 | |||
| Yes | No | NV | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 23 | 5 | 7 |
| Total % | 65.7% | 14.3% | 20.0% |
| Democratic (D) | 0 | 5 | 3 |
| Republican (R) | 23 | 0 | 4 |
External links
See also
View other measures certified for the 2026 ballot across the U.S. and in Alabama.
Explore Alabama's ballot measure history, including constitutional amendments.
Understand how measures are placed on the ballot and the rules that apply.
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The Alabama Legislature, "Senate Bill 5 Text," accessed March 5, 2026
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ The Alabama Legislature, "Bill History for SB5," accessed March 5, 2026 (Search Term: SB5)
