State Representatives
Bills Sponsored:
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This bill would create the Imagination Library of Alabama Program, which would utilize Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library to provide free age-appropriate books to children throughout the state.
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This bill made it so teachers with over 20 years of service are no longer mandated to receive a fixed five-year contract and can now be offered a contract for five years or less. The goal in this is to no longer limit districts’ flexibility in staffing and budgeting.
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This bill would exempt the Cook Museum of Natural Science from state sales and use taxes.
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This bill take the Alabama Math and Science Teacher Education Program, expands eligibility for loan assistance to teachers in any subject matter that is experiencing an educator shortage, and changes the name of the program to the Loan Assistance in Support of Educators in Alabama Program.
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This bill changed the minimum age for someone to qualify as an adult learner for the ReEngage Alabama Grant Program from 25 to 22 years old. This program provides financial assistance to adult learners returning to college to finish a degree tied to Alabama’s list of high-demand occupations.
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This bill gave teachers a 2% pay raise starting in the 2027 financial year.
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This bill shifts responsibility for the Rural Hospital Investment Program Board from the state treasurer to the Alabama Department of Revenue.
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This bill would allow Alabama certified Licensing Administrators to be compensated annually for completing professional training.
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This bill amended the Entertainment Industry Incentive Act of 2009 to provide an additional incentive program for small, qualified productions.
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This bill made it so before two or more county boards of education can be merged, the State Board of Education is required to conduct and publish a study to see the potential effects of the consolidation, as well as provide a procedure for citizens to protest the proposed consolidation.
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This bill is something of a rework on HB604. It would revise the school grading system based partially on whether the school includes a 12-grade class. It would also have the Alabama Workforce Board work with the State department of Education to develop reports on student performance relating to college completion and career readiness.
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This bill would move the responsibility for developing and implementing a school grading system from the State Superintendent of Education to the Alabama Workforce Board and an Accountability Council, as well as requiring them to develop a way to report on student performance relating to college completion and career readiness indicators.
Terri Collins in her own words:
Terri Collins is unfortunately not running for re-election. As such, her campaign website has been deactivated, however the Alabama Legislature website states she worked in banking for 16 years before being elected in 2010, and served on a number of education committees. She is also a founding member of the Women’s Leadership Council with United Way.
Terri Collins in the bills she’s sponsored:
Representative Collins has been able to pass many of the bills she’s sponsored within the past year, and she’s sponsored quite a few. I interpret this to mean she’s a competent legislator, and none of the bills she’s passed strike me as controversial in any way. At worst, HB122 may lessen job security for some teachers by allowing the schools that contract them to offer shorter contracts, but the whole act that HB122 is amending only applies to teachers who have been working for over 20 years anyways.
One resolution she has put forth pushes for the creation of a bicameral legislative caucus (a group of lawmakers from both the state house and state senate) to protect, promote, and support the interests of HBCUs (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and the students who attend them.
Overall, the bills she’s passed show a care and concern for teachers and the education system in Alabama, as well as support for the students who live here.
Her potential successors:
Terri Collins has chosen to not run for reelection this year, and the seat for district 8 is currently being fought over by Bruce Sparkman and Patrick Johnson.
Bruce Sparkman is practically a ghost on the internet. From the piddling bit of information I’ve found on him, he may be, or have been a principal on the Morgan County Board of Education.
Patrick Johnson works as a State Farm insurance agent. His campaign Facebook page shows him attending Habitat for Humanity meetings as well Decatur Morgan Hospital’s State of Healthcare address.