SB277 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Shay ShelnuttSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Public K-12 schools, sex education curriculum further provided for, sexual risk avoidance established as sex ed curriculum, policies of local boards of education related to sex ed further provided for, parent or guardian notice of sex ed curriculum required, Attorney General authorized to enforce
Summary: SB277 would require public K-12 sex education to focus on sexual risk avoidance and abstinence, restrict abortion information, and require parental notice with an opt-out and AG enforcement.
What This Bill Does
It would require the curriculum to exclusively teach sexual risk avoidance and abstinence, and to include age-appropriate, medically accurate information on pregnancy costs, child care, abortion, adoption, and parenting responsibilities. It would prohibit abortion referrals, misrepresentation of contraception efficacy, and sexually explicit images; require 14-day advance notice to parents with a right to opt out, and authorize the Attorney General to enforce. It would also bar certain external providers from teaching if they do not endorse risk avoidance or advocate for abortions.

Who It Affects
Public K-12 students in Alabama schools would receive a risk-avoidance–focused sex education curriculum and may be opted out by their parent or guardian.
Parents or guardians of public school students would be notified in advance (at least 14 days) and given the option to opt their child out of the sex education curriculum.

Key Provisions
Requires sex education and human reproductive curriculum to teach sexual risk avoidance and encourage abstinence from all sexual activity.
Includes information on laws related to the costs of pregnancy and child care, abortion, and adoption, plus instruction on parenting responsibilities.
Prohibits referrals to abortion services, misrepresentation of contraception efficacy, and sexually explicit images in the curriculum.
Local boards of education may not use the services of individuals or organizations that do not endorse sexual risk avoidance or that advocate for or perform abortions.
Requires advance written notice to parents/guardians at least 14 days before teaching, and allows parents to opt their child out without penalty; schools must provide the curriculum on request.
Authorizes the Attorney General to enforce the provisions, including through injunctive relief.
Effective date of 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