HB246 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Scott StadthagenRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Public schools, colleges, and universities; immunity provided to students and teachers who decline to use certain pronouns or names

Summary

HB246 would bar public school and public university staff from using a student’s non-legal name or pronouns not matching the student’s biological sex without parental consent, while shielding students and staff from discipline or retaliation and allowing a private lawsuit for violations.

What This Bill Does

It would require employees to address students by their legal name and pronouns that match biological sex unless there is written permission from the parent or guardian to use a different name or pronoun. It protects teachers and staff from adverse employment actions for declining to use non-legal names or pronouns, or to identify pronouns. It also protects students from disciplinary action for declining to use non-legal names or pronouns or to identify pronouns. The act creates a private right of action for individuals harmed by violations, allowing injunctive relief, monetary damages, attorney fees, and other relief, with actions required to be filed within two years, and it takes effect on October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Students in public schools and public institutions of higher education who may choose to decline using a non-legal name or pronouns and are protected from disciplinary action; parental consent is required to use a different name or pronoun.
• Public school and public higher education employees (teachers and staff) who are protected from adverse employment actions if they decline to use non-legal names or pronouns or to identify pronouns.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits employees from addressing unemancipated minor students by a name other than the legal name or by a pronoun inconsistent with the student's sex without written permission from the student’s parent/guardian.
• Protects employees from adverse employment actions for declining to use a non-legal name or pronoun, or to identify pronouns.
• Protects students from disciplinary action for declining to use a non-legal name or pronoun, or to identify pronouns.
• Creates a private cause of action for individuals harmed by violations, with remedies including injunctive relief, monetary damages, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and other relief; two-year statute of limitations for civil actions.
• Defines terms such as female, male, and sex for purposes of the act, clarifying biological definitions used in enforcing the law.
• Effective date is October 1, 2025.

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