HB74 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris EnglandRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Civil Rights, provide right of a person to be free from discrimination because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or familial status; remedies provided

Summary

HB74 would declare a broad civil right protecting people from discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or familial status, with remedies for violations.

What This Bill Does

It makes discrimination illegal in five areas: employment, places of public accommodation, housing, credit and other contracts, and voting. People harmed by discrimination can sue for remedies such as back pay (capped at two years before filing), compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees. Religious organizations have a narrow exemption for employment when performing religious activities.

Who It Affects

• Individuals who experience discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, credit/contracting, or voting because of protected characteristics.
• Employers with nine or more employees in Alabama (and their agents) who would be subject to these protections; religious organizations have limited exemptions for religious activities.

Key Provisions

• Defines protected classes and key terms, including sex (which includes pregnancy), disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and familial status.
• Recognizes the right to be free from discrimination in employment, public accommodations, housing, credit/contractual transactions, and voting.
• Allows civil actions to stop illegal discrimination and to obtain remedies such as back pay (limited to the past two years), compensatory damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees or costs.
• Specifies that employment discrimination remedies include court orders and back pay, with a two-year look-back period for back pay; allows compensatory and punitive damages for intentional employment discrimination.
• Excludes certain religious employment scenarios where a religious organization hires for religious activities.
• Clarifies that the act does not limit other remedies available under law.
• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and gubernatorial approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Civil Rights