HB449 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jeremy GrayRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Education, grades K-12, yoga, authorize local boards of education to offer to students

Summary

HB 449 would allow local school boards in Alabama to offer yoga to students in grades K–12 as an elective, with specific rules about how it can be taught.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, local boards of education could offer yoga as an elective for students in grades K–12. Students could choose to participate or opt out for alternative activities. The district would decide how long and how often yoga is taught, and instruction would be limited to poses, exercises, and stretching with English names; chanting, mantras, mudras, mandalas, and namaste greetings would be prohibited.

Who It Affects

• Students in grades K–12 who may take yoga as an elective or opt out of the activity, with content limited to the specified poses and language.
• Local boards of education and school districts, which would decide whether to offer yoga, how long and how often it is taught, and how to implement the stated restrictions.

Key Provisions

• Yoga instruction shall be an elective activity, with an opt-out option for students who prefer alternative activities.
• Local boards of education have exclusive discretion to determine the duration and frequency of yoga instruction.
• Instruction in yoga is limited to poses, exercises, and stretching techniques.
• Poses are limited to sitting, standing, reclining, twisting, and balancing.
• All poses, exercises, and stretching techniques must have exclusively English descriptive names.
• Chanting, mantras, mudras, mandalas, and namaste greetings are expressly prohibited.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and governor's 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

Education