HB158 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Brock ColvinRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Face mask mandates; governmental entities and State Health Officer, prohibited from imposing to prevent spread of COVId-19; exceptions, provided

Summary

HB158 would bar governmental entities and the State Health Officer from imposing any COVID-19 face mask mandates, with limited exceptions for medical/dental facilities and detention centers, effective October 1, 2024.

What This Bill Does

HB158 would prohibit governmental entities and the State Health Officer from imposing any face mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or its variants. It would create exceptions for facilities providing medical or dental services and for state and local detention facilities. The bill defines who counts as a governmental entity and sets the effective date of October 1, 2024.

Who It Affects

• State, county, and municipal governments, including public K-12 schools and public charter schools, would be barred from issuing mask mandates.
• The State Health Officer would be barred from issuing mask mandates.
• Facilities that provide medical or dental services would be exempt from the prohibition and could impose mask requirements if they choose.
• State and local detention centers would be exempt from the prohibition and could impose mask requirements if they choose.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits governmental entities and the State Health Officer from issuing any face mask mandate to prevent the spread of COVID-19 or any variant.
• Defines 'governmental entity' to include the state, counties, municipalities, instrumentalities, and public K-12/public charter schools.
• Provides exceptions by not applying to orders or mandates for facilities providing medical or dental services and for state/local detention centers.
• Sets October 1, 2024 as the effective date.

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

Subjects

Health