MONTGOMERY — There will likely be legislation introduced focusing on the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA) in the 2026 session, according to State Sen. Pro-Tem Garlan Gudger (R-Cullman).
The AHSAA is currently being sued by Governor Kay Ivey and House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville) over their rule requiring transfer students using CHOOSE Act funds to sit out from athletics for a year. Montgomery County Circuit Judge J.R. Gaines recently granted a temporary restraining order against the AHSAA, allowing affected CHOOSE Act students to participate in sports while the lawsuit proceeds.
Gudger told reporters on Tuesday, after the first day of the 2026 session, that bills regarding AHSAA would likely be introduced.
"I do think that there will be some bills that are coming up. There are a lot of people that are upset about some of the policies that that particular board had made," Gudger said. "Maybe an expansion of the board would be coming. We're going to have plenty of debate on that going through committee and coming to the floor. Will it pass? I'm not sure. It's going to be up to the people on this floor. My job is to make sure that everybody is in the same boat, rowing in the same direction, and if there's people that oppose that, to get them to the table and talk about it whether that's on the floor or before we hit the floor but I do think the legislation of that is coming."
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