By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
State Rep. Jeana Ross has pre-filed legislation to establish research-aligned screen-time standards for children from birth to age five in publicly funded early learning environments across Alabama.
House Bill 78, titled the Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act, was filed ahead of the 2026 legislative session and would position Alabama among the first states to adopt statewide guidelines governing screen use in early childhood education programs.
VOICES endorses the legislation for Alabama’s Children, which joined Ross in emphasizing the importance of protecting early brain development and creating consistency across child care, pre-K, and kindergarten settings.
“The earliest years of life — from birth to age five — are the most important period of brain development a child will ever experience,” Ross said. “Aligning screen use with research strengthens—not restricts—our teachers and classrooms and helps ensure strong starts lead to strong futures.”
If passed, the bill would require the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (ADECE) to develop age-appropriate guidelines that define high-quality programming, set screen time limits by age, and promote hands-on learning and social interaction. The standards would apply to licensed child care facilities, pre-K programs, and public kindergarten classrooms.
“By setting clear, developmentally appropriate limits on screen time, this legislation helps protect young children from the well-documented risks of excessive screen exposure,” said ADECE Secretary Ami Brooks.
The bill also mandates that the guidelines be publicly available at no cost to parents and guardians and establishes a statewide training program for early childhood educators. The training would be developed jointly by ADECE, the Alabama Department of Human Resources, and the Alabama State Department of Education.
State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey said the proposal strikes an important balance. “Our youngest children do not need to spend all day on screens,” Mackey said. “Schools should be places preserved for interactive learning with other children and adults.”
Under the bill, compliance with the guidelines would become a condition of licensure for child care facilities, with oversight shared among state agencies and local boards of education.
The legislation will be considered during the 2026 Alabama legislative session.