HB27 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Rolanda HollisRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Discrimination, to make it unlawful to deny an individual full and equal employment of public accommodations based on certain protected classes, to make it unlawful for a local school board to discriminate against an individual based on certain protected classes, and to make it unlawful for an employer to discriminate against an applicant or employee based on certain protected classes

Summary

HB27 would ban discrimination in public accommodations, schools, and employment based on protected classes and allow individuals to sue for discrimination.

What This Bill Does

It bans denying full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations to people based on protected characteristics such as race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. It also prohibits local school boards from discriminating, and forbids employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations from discriminating against individuals for those characteristics. It creates a private right of action so individuals can sue for relief, including orders to comply, back pay, and possibly punitive damages; plaintiffs cannot be charged court fees, and prevailing parties may recover attorney fees and other costs. There are exemptions for private clubs, certain housing arrangements, and religious organizations when complying would conflict with religious tenets.

Who It Affects

• People who use places of public accommodation (stores, restaurants, and services) would be protected from discrimination based on protected characteristics.
• Employers, employment agencies, labor organizations, and local school boards would be prohibited from discriminating and could face private lawsuits from individuals.

Key Provisions

• Defines protected classes, including a broad race definition that covers ancestry, color, ethnic background, and protective hairstyles.
• Prohibits denying any person full and equal enjoyment of public accommodations (goods, services, facilities, privileges) based on race, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin.
• Prohibits discrimination by local school boards against individuals based on protected classes.
• Prohibits employers and employment agencies from discriminating against individuals because of protected classes, and prohibits labor organizations from excluding or discriminating against members or applicants.
• Creates a private right of action for discrimination with relief including compliance, back pay, and punitive damages for willful violations; no court costs may be charged to plaintiffs, and prevailing plaintiffs may recover attorney fees and other costs.
• Provides exemptions for private clubs, certain housing arrangements, and religious organizations where compliance would conflict with religious tenets.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Discrimination