A bill that would expand the ability of Alabama colleges to fire tenured professors gained House approval Tuesday, but it would not affect the state’s two largest university systems.
House Bill 580, sponsored by Representative Troy Stubbs, R-Wetumpka, passed 82-18 on Tuesday after lawmakers amended it to specifically exempt the University of Alabama and Auburn University systems, which are created by the state constitution.
“They’re very aware of this bill, and they understand the concepts, and I think that they will find that elements of this bill are very needed and beneficial to their institutions along with the other four-year institutions in our state,” Stubbs said. “But we can’t compel them to do anything.”…