SB247 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will BarfootSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to education; to provide prohibitions on the promotion, endorsement, and affirmation of certain divisive concepts in certain public settings; and to authorize certain penalties for violation.

Summary

SB247 would bar Alabama public entities from promoting or requiring agreement with certain divisive concepts about race, sex, or religion, and would allow penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It would prohibit state agencies, local boards of education, and public colleges and universities from forcing students, employees, or contractors to affirm divisive concepts or attend trainings that require assent. It would also prohibit conditioning enrollment or attendance in classes or trainings on race or color. Violations could lead to disciplinary action or termination, subject to existing policies and appeal rights. The bill also defines key terms and sets limits on related activities, while preserving some rights like answering questions and academic freedom within specified boundaries.

Who It Affects

• Public agencies, local boards of education, and public institutions of higher education would be limited in how they promote concepts, require assent, or condition enrollment.
• Students in public K-12 schools or public higher education, and employees or contractors working for those public entities, would be protected from compelled endorsement and could face discipline for violations.

Key Provisions

• Divisive concepts are defined to include beliefs about inherent superiority or inferiority of groups; discrimination or guilt based on race/color/religion/sex/ethnicity/origin; and related ideas about moral character or responsibility.
• Public entities may not directly or indirectly compel a student, employee, or contractor to affirm a divisive concept, or require attendance in trainings advocating for such concepts, or condition enrollment on race or color.
• Disciplinary actions or termination may be taken against employees or contractors who knowingly violate the act, with existing institution policies and appeal processes applying to higher education and local boards of education.
• The act preserves certain rights for employees (e.g., responding to questions) and limits on higher education practices related to accreditation, documentation, or teaching in a way that would compel assent to divisive concepts, while addressing First Amendment considerations.
• The act becomes effective 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.

Subjects

Education, promotion and endorsement of certain divisive concepts in certain public settings prohibited