ALEA Sets Record Straight on Taylor’s Law: What Alabama Parents and Teen Drivers Need to Know

Proposed changes did not become law, and ALEA says existing rules linking certain school disciplinary actions to driver's license eligibility remain in effect.

Graphic Courtesy: The Weekly Ledger News | ALEA Logo Courtesy of the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

T.L. Sullivan | The Weekly Ledger News | State and Local News | Wednesday, August 19, 2026

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency is clarifying the state’s driver's license eligibility requirements for students following recent public confusion surrounding “Taylor’s Law” and legislation considered during the 2026 legislative session.

ALEA said Alabama’s existing requirements remain unchanged and that no amendments to Taylor’s Law took effect Aug. 1.

Taylor’s Law, formally Section 32-6-7.4 of the Code of Alabama 1975, was enacted by the Alabama Legislature in 2009 as Act 2009-713. The law includes provisions that can affect when students with certain school disciplinary actions become eligible to apply for a learner’s permit, driver's license, or other applicable operator credential.

Proposed Change Did Not Become Law

According to ALEA, some of the recent confusion appears to stem from House Bill 33, which was introduced during the Alabama Legislature’s 2026 Regular Session.

The legislation proposed lowering the age threshold associated with certain driver license eligibility provisions from 19 to 17.

Although HB33 was approved by the Alabama House of Representatives, it did not pass the Alabama Senate and therefore did not become law.

As a result, ALEA said no changes to Section 32-6-7.4 became effective Aug. 1, 2026, and the agency continues to administer the requirements already established under Alabama law.

How Taylor’s Law Works

Under Taylor’s Law, Alabama public and private secondary schools assess disciplinary points for specified disciplinary actions. Those actions may include:

• In-school suspension

• Out-of-school suspension

• Placement in an alternative school

• Expulsion

The accumulation of disciplinary points may delay the age at which an otherwise eligible student can apply for a learner’s permit, driver's license or other applicable driving credential.

Schools and local education agencies are responsible for maintaining disciplinary records, assessing points as required by law and reporting applicable information through the established process.

ALEA emphasized that the agency itself does not establish school disciplinary policies or assign disciplinary points to students.

Schools Certify Eligibility; ALEA Applies State Law

ALEA’s Driver License Division receives eligibility information through the applicant’s DL-193 form, which is certified by the appropriate educational authorities.

The agency then determines the applicant’s eligibility by applying the requirements established under Alabama law.

The DL-193 also confirms compliance with Act 93-368, which requires applicable school attendance or graduation standards to be met before an individual under age 19 may be issued a learner license or driver license.

ALEA stressed that its role is limited to administering the licensing provisions enacted by the Alabama Legislature.

The agency does not create disciplinary policies, determine how disciplinary points are assigned, or independently change driver license eligibility requirements.

Bottom line for Alabama families: Taylor’s Law remains in effect, and the proposed 2026 legislation that would have changed the applicable age threshold did not become law.

For additional information concerning Alabama driver license laws and requirements, readers may visit the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s website.

Source: Alabama Law Enforcement Agency

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