HB425 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ernie YarbroughRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Provision of sexual content to minor, prohibited; libraries prohibited from purchasing certain sexual content; certain entities prohibited from affiliating with American Library Assn.; cause of action, created; exception to Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act for libraries and library employees, repealed

Summary

HB425 would ban providing minors with sexual content, strip libraries of immunity from obscenity laws, and bar state-funded libraries from affiliating with the American Library Association, with civil remedies for violations.

What This Bill Does

The bill repeals the criminal exemption for libraries and their staff from the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act. It prohibits the state or any library from supplying sexual content to minors and bans libraries from purchasing or accepting donated sexual content if the publisher has recommended it for minors. It also bars entities that receive state funds from affiliating with the American Library Association. The act creates civil actions by the Attorney General, district attorneys, or parents/guardians for violations, including injunctive relief, damages, and attorney’s fees, and sets October 1, 2024 as the effective date.

Who It Affects

• Libraries and library employees/agents: face criminal liability and must comply with new prohibitions on providing or acquiring sexual content for minors.
• Publishers and sellers of sexual content: prohibited from supplying to libraries or donating materials recommended for minors.
• Libraries and state-funded entities: barred from affiliating with the American Library Association.
• Parents or guardians of minors: may sue and seek injunctions, damages, punitive damages, and attorney’s fees for violations.
• Attorney General and district attorneys: authorized to file civil actions to enforce the act.
• Minors: protected from being provided sexual content by libraries or state-funded entities.

Key Provisions

• Repeals Section 13A-12-200.10, removing the criminal exemption for libraries and their employees or agents under the Anti-Obscenity Enforcement Act.
• Prohibits the state or any library from supplying any minor with sexual content and bans libraries from purchasing or accepting donated sexual content if the publisher has recommended it for minors.
• Prohibits entities receiving state funds and libraries from affiliating with the American Library Association (including membership, training, or certification).
• Authorizes the Attorney General or district attorney to file civil actions for violations, including injunctive relief, and authorizes parents/guardians to sue for injunctive relief, damages (including punitive), and attorney’s fees and costs.
• Provides for injunctive relief and other remedies for violations, and includes severability and an effective date of October 1, 2024.
• Defines key terms used in the act, including LIBRARY, MINOR, SEXUAL CONTENT, SUPPLY, and others.

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

Subjects

Children