HB246 Alabama 2021 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jeremy GrayRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2021

Title

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

Summary

HB246 allows local boards of education in Alabama to offer yoga to K-12 students as an elective, with opt-out options and specific content and consent rules.

What This Bill Does

The bill lets local boards choose to offer yoga as an elective for students in grades K-12 and requires that students can opt out in favor of alternatives. Boards may decide whether to offer yoga and how long and how often it occurs. Instruction is limited to physical poses, exercises, and stretching with English-named terms, and prohibited activities include chanting, meditation, and other Eastern philosophical elements. Parents must receive a signed consent form acknowledging participation, which also notes that yoga is associated with Hinduism. The act becomes law after the governor approves it.

Who It Affects

• Students in grades K-12 whose schools choose to offer yoga, who may participate as an elective and may opt out if they or their parents prefer an alternative activity
• Parents or legal guardians, who must sign and return a consent notice and be informed that yoga is associated with Hinduism as part of their child's participation

Key Provisions

• Yoga is an elective activity; students may opt out for alternative activities
• Local boards may allow or disallow yoga and set the duration and frequency of sessions
• Instruction limited to poses, exercises, and stretching; poses limited to sitting, standing, reclining, twisting, and balancing; all names in English
• Chanting, mantras, mudras, mandalas, hypnosis, guided imagery, meditation, and related Eastern philosophy elements are prohibited
• A written consent notice must be provided to and signed by a parent or guardian, noting participation and the association with Hinduism
• School staff are prohibited from using hypnosis, dissociative states, guided imagery, or meditation as part of yoga instruction

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education