HB324 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ernie YarbroughRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to vaccinations; to prohibit an employer, a place of public accommodation, and an occupational licensing board from discriminating based on immunization status.

Summary

HB324 would prohibit discrimination based on immunization status by employers, places of public accommodation, and occupational licensing boards in Alabama, and reject federal vaccine mandates in the state.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the act would bar employers from discriminating in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, training, or other employment terms based on immunization status. It would prohibit places of public accommodation from denying equal access to goods, services, or facilities for immunization-status reasons. It would also prevent occupational licensing boards from denying, suspending, or revoking licenses based on immunization status, and it creates civil remedies for violations, including damages and attorney fees, enforceable by individuals and the Attorney General. It additionally declares that federal vaccine mandates are invalid in Alabama and would take effect immediately after passage.

Who It Affects

• Employees and job applicants who could be treated unfairly in hiring, promotion, or pay because of their immunization status
• Customers and users of places of public accommodation who could be denied goods or services based on immunization status
• People applying for or holding professional licenses who could be denied, suspended, or revoked licenses because of immunization status
• The Attorney General and individuals who seek to enforce or defend the rights under this act

Key Provisions

• Definitions of key terms (discrimination, employment, public accommodations, immunization status, and employer)
• Prohibition of employment discrimination based on immunization status (hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, training, and other terms)
• Prohibition of discrimination by places of public accommodation in access to goods, services, and facilities
• Prohibition of licensing actions based on immunization status by occupational licensing boards
• Civil remedies for violators (injunctive relief, compensatory and punitive damages) and attorney fees for prevailing plaintiffs; Attorney General enforcement permitted
• Public policy clause stating that federal vaccine mandates are invalid in Alabama
• Immediate effectiveness upon passage and approval

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

Subjects

Vaccinations, discrimination based on immunization status by certain public entities, prohibited