MONTGOMERY, AL — Kay Ivey on Wednesday signed the Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act, a new law aimed at limiting electronic screen exposure in early childhood education and licensed childcare facilities across Alabama. The measure was one of the governor’s legislative priorities for 2026.
The legislation, sponsored by Jeana Ross and Donnie Chesteen, directs the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education to develop guidelines governing the appropriate use of screen-based media in early learning environments. The department will collaborate with the Alabama Department of Human Resources and the Alabama State Department of Education in creating those standards.
The guidelines will apply to a range of early childhood education settings, including day care centers, day care homes, group day care homes, night care facilities, prekindergarten programs, and kindergarten classrooms.
“Video screen access in classrooms can boost learning skills among our young children, but too much screen exposure can also be detrimental, harming critical social and cognitive development,” said Ivey. “The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act ensures our youngest students are provided a healthy balance of screen time and traditional learning in order to protect social and emotional development. I am pleased to sign this commonsense legislation to make sure Alabama’s children are protected.”
According to Ross, the legislation is designed to establish research-based expectations for how technology should be used in early childhood settings while maintaining a focus on hands-on learning and interpersonal interaction.
“House Bill 78 establishes clear, research-based expectations for how technology is used in early childhood settings,” Ross said. “The goal is not to eliminate technology, but to ensure its use is developmentally appropriate and never replaces the hands-on learning and human interaction young children need most. By setting thoughtful guardrails and aligning classroom practices with the best available research on early brain development, this legislation supports educators, protects the quality of early learning and reinforces our commitment to giving Alabama’s youngest students the strongest possible start.”
The law also requires the Department of Early Childhood Education to create a training program for teachers and staff members who supervise children, focusing on the appropriate use of screen time in educational settings.
Chesteen said the measure builds on recent legislative efforts focused on early childhood development and education.
“The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act represents another important step in ensuring Alabama’s youngest children grow and learn in environments that prioritize human interaction, exploration and healthy development,” Chesteen said. “Building on the progress made with last year’s FOCUS Act, this legislation continues our commitment to protecting the most formative years of childhood. I am grateful to Governor Kay Ivey and my colleagues in the Legislature for recognizing the importance of this issue and working together to support Alabama families.”
The Healthy Early Development and Screen Time Act will take effect on January 1, 2027.
