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A bill requiring Alabama schools to play the Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week has passed a Senate Committee by voice vote.

The bill SB 13, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen (R-Tuscaloosa), will now go to the full Senate.

Allen explained last month why he decided to introduce the bill.

“One of the things that bothered me and was really troubling for quite some time — so many children in K-12, they’re not involved in after-school activities, they don’t have the opportunity to go to functions after school — and they miss hearing and seeing a lot of things. One of those things is the national anthem. That’s one thing that I really felt like needed to be done. That’s important. It really is important to me.”