MONTGOMERY– The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency says Alabama’s driver license eligibility requirements under Taylor’s Law remain unchanged despite recent public confusion about the law.

Taylor’s Law, formally Section 32-6-7.4 of the Code of Alabama, has been in effect since 2009. The law allows disciplinary actions involving students to affect when they may become eligible for a learner’s permit, driver license, or other applicable operator credential.

House Bill 33 Did Not Become Law

ALEA said some of the recent confusion appears to involve House Bill 33 from the 2026 legislative session. The legislation proposed lowering the age threshold associated with certain driver license eligibility provisions from 19 to 17.

Although the Alabama House of Representatives approved the legislation, it did not pass the Alabama Senate and did not become law. As a result, ALEA said no changes to the applicable requirements took effect Aug. 1.

How Taylor’s Law Affects Driver License Eligibility

Under the existing law, Alabama public and private secondary schools assess disciplinary points for certain actions. Those can include in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, placement in an alternative school, and expulsion.

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

Local education agencies and public and private schools are responsible for maintaining disciplinary records, assessing points as required by law, and reporting the appropriate information.

ALEA’s Driver License Division receives eligibility information through an applicant’s DL-193 form, which is certified by the appropriate educational authorities. ALEA then determines eligibility by applying requirements established under Alabama law.

The DL-193 also confirms compliance with Act 93-368. That law requires certain attendance or graduation standards to be met before someone under age 19 may receive a learner license or driver license.

ALEA emphasized that it does not establish school disciplinary policies, assign disciplinary points, or change statutory eligibility requirements. The agency’s responsibility is to administer the licensing provisions enacted by the Alabama Legislature.

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