HB489 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben RobbinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to public K-12 education; to require each local board of education to prohibit students from accessing social media platforms through Internet access provided through the schools under the jurisdiction of the local board; and to amend Section 16-6B-2, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide certain students with instruction on social media risks and safety as a required course; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style..

Summary

HB489 would block school internet access to social media and require a social media risks and safety course for public school students, starting with ninth graders in the 2024-25 school year.

What This Bill Does

It requires local boards of education to prohibit students from accessing social media platforms using school-provided Internet. It also requires students in grades 9-12 to take a one-semester, age-appropriate course on the risks of social media and how to use it safely, with content published by the State Department of Education and local boards and parental notification. The bill amends Section 16-6B-2 to make social media safety instruction a required part of the core curriculum, with phased implementation starting for ninth graders in 2024-25, and establishes how the curriculum should be delivered and who approves it.

Who It Affects

• Students in Alabama public schools: they would be prohibited from using school-provided Internet to access social media, and ninth graders would must complete a half-credit course on social media risks and safe use (with broader instruction for other grades).
• Local boards of education and the State Board of Education: they would implement the access ban, develop and publish the social media curriculum, adopt policies and procedures to implement the requirements, and notify parents about access and instructional materials.

Key Provisions

• Local boards of education must prohibit students from accessing social media platforms through school-provided Internet access.
• Amends Section 16-6B-2 to require social media risks and safety instruction as a required course, with ninth graders starting in 2024-2025 completing one semester (half credit) of instruction; curriculum includes advantages of social media, risks, and safe-use practices, and is published online by the State Department of Education and local boards; parents must be notified where to access materials.
• The State Board of Education must adopt policies, procedures, rules, regulations, and standards to implement these requirements.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval; includes nonsubstantive updates to current code language.

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