State Rep. Danny Garrett (R-Trussville) will continue as chairman of the House Ways and Means Education Committee, following his reappointment by House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter.
The committee develops the Education Trust Fund Budget, the primary funding source for Alabama’s K-12 schools, community colleges, and public colleges and universities.
Garrett has held the post since 2021, guiding the committee through five record-setting budget cycles, and Ledbetter credited him with much of the progress.
“The last four years have been the most transformative period in state history for public education, and much of that success can be directly traced back to Chairman Garrett’s leadership,” Speaker Ledbetter said.
The Speaker also credited Garrett with strengthening the state’s education budget. Ledbetter said the Education Trust Fund Budget “has never been stronger” and called Garrett “one of the best state budget chairmen in the country.”
Garrett’s work has reached well beyond the budget lines. He helped shape and enact the Choose Act, which has allowed 35,000 Alabama students to enroll in schools that fit their needs and recently helped earn the state a top 10 ranking in educational freedom.
Since Garrett’s first budget as a chairman in 2022, Alabama teachers have received four pay raises, and Alabama now has the highest starting teacher salary among its neighboring states. He also played a key role in the state-funded paid parental leave program delivered in 2025.
Garrett has also been active on higher education. He and State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) sponsored the CHEER Act, which created a fund to reward public colleges and universities for results like degree completion and workforce outcomes.
Garrett said he’s honored by the Speaker’s trust and isn’t planning on slowing down.
“It is an honor to serve the people of Alabama in this vital capacity, and I am grateful for the trust Speaker Ledbetter has placed in me to continue delivering for our state’s students,”Garrett said.
“For the first time in our state’s history, Alabama is leading the nation in learning gains while setting a strong example for others to follow, and that starts with conservative budgeting in our committee. At the end of the day, every decision we make is guided by the fact that this is not the state government’s money – it belongs to Alabama’s children, and I remain committed to ensuring it is spent in a manner that gives them the best possible opportunity to succeed.”
Evy Gallagher is the managing editor of Yellowhammer News. You can contact her directly at [email protected]
