SB211 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to two-year and four-year public institutions of higher education; to amend Section 16-1-52, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit a biological male from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for females; to prohibit a biological female from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for males; to prohibit adverse action against a public K-12 school or public two-year or four-year institution of higher education for complying with this act; to prohibit adverse action or retaliation against a student who reports a violation of this act; and to provide a remedy for any student who suffers harm as a result of a violation of this act.

Summary

SB211 would require public colleges to bar biological males from female-designated teams and biological females from male-designated teams, while protecting schools and students who comply or report violations and providing a private remedy for harmed students.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Alabama law to prohibit a biological male from participating on a female-designated team and a biological female from participating on a male-designated team at public two-year and four-year colleges. It prohibits adverse action against public K-12 schools or public colleges for complying with the act and bars retaliation against students who report violations. It creates a private right of action for students harmed by violations, allowing injunctive relief, damages, attorney fees, and other relief. It also states nothing prevents participation on coed or mixed teams, and establishes protections related to the effective date of the law.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 schools and public two-year or four-year colleges in Alabama — must enforce sex-specific team rules and are protected from adverse actions for complying and from retaliation against students who report violations.
• Student-athletes and students who participate in athletics (biological males and biological females) — their eligibility will be limited by sex-designated teams; reporters of violations receive protections, and harmed students can pursue private remedies.
• Governmental entities, athletic associations, and accrediting organizations — barred from taking adverse actions against schools or students for compliance or reporting violations.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-1-52 to prohibit a biological male from participating on a female-designated team and a biological female from participating on a male-designated team in public higher education.
• Prohibits adverse action or retaliation by government entities, accrediting organizations, or athletic associations against schools or students for complying with this act or reporting violations.
• Creates a private civil action for students harmed by violations, with remedies including injunctive relief, damages, attorney fees, and other relief available under the law.
• Nothing in the bill restricts participation on teams designated as coed or mixed; the act does not apply to events where both biological sexes are allowed to participate.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

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