SB101 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Larry StuttsSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Consent to medical treatment; age at which minor may consent to medical treatment revised, exceptions further provided for
Summary: SB101 changes minor consent rules to 18 for most health services, while boosting parental access and adding school-based mental health supports.
What This Bill Does
It raises the general age a minor can consent to medical, dental, and mental health services to 18, with exceptions for certain statuses (married, divorced, pregnant, emancipated, or living independently). It preserves minor consent for pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol or drug dependency services regardless of age. It strengthens parents' rights to access their child’s health information with limited exceptions and requires schools to create coordinated, opt-in mental health services with annual parent notifications and separate health records; it also sets up school-based mental health coordinators and related certification and reporting requirements. The act also states that an 18-year-old or older minor may consent to participate in clinical trials.

Who It Affects
Minors under 18 seeking medical, dental, mental health, vaccination, or bone marrow-related services, who would now generally need parental consent unless they are in an exempt category.
Parents/guardians and school systems, who gain enhanced rights to access minor health information, must navigate opt-in policies for school-based mental health services, and oversee health decisions for their children.

Key Provisions
General minor consent age for medical, dental, and mental health services is raised to 18, with exceptions for married, divorced, pregnant, emancipated, or independently living minors.
Minors may still consent to services to prevent or treat pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and alcohol or drug dependency regardless of age.
Parents have a fundamental right and duty to make health care decisions for their minor child, subject to the new consent rules and safety exceptions; health information access by parents is largely protected, with listed exceptions.
Local boards must hire a mental health service coordinator for each school, with specified qualifications, certification within a year, and a needs assessment/resource map to improve student mental health resources.
Schools must adopt policies for parent opt-in to mental health services, including annual notification, written parent permission for participation, and separate health records for mental health services; parents retain authority to approve or deny treatment.
A health care provider may access or disclose minor health information under HIPAA rules and certain conditions; 18+ minors may consent to clinical trials without others' consent.
Effective date: 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: Health