SB79 Alabama 2025 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: April WeaverSenator
Republican
Session: 2025 Regular Session
Title: Sex-based terms, defined; vital statistics, report sex as male or female at birth required, legislative policy regarding sex and gender identity established
Summary: SB79 would redefine sex terms, require birth sex to be recorded as male or female in vital statistics, and allow single-sex spaces in certain public facilities with privacy protections and a civil remedy for violations.
What This Bill Does
The bill defines sex-based terms and confirms there are two sexes. It allows public entities to create separate single-sex spaces (restrooms, changing rooms, sleeping areas) when privacy or safety considerations apply and requires designated, exclusive spaces for either males or females in facilities like correctional facilities, DV shelters, juvenile detention centers, public schools, and public colleges. It prohibits entry into a space designated for one sex by a person of the opposite sex and provides a civil cause of action if someone encounters the opposite sex in a designated space. It also requires vital statistics to identify individuals as male or female at birth (with limited use of 'unknown' in certain cases) and defines 'sex' as observed at birth, with the act becoming effective October 1, 2025.

Who It Affects
People who use or work in correctional facilities, domestic violence shelters, juvenile detention centers, public schools, and public institutions of higher education, who would be assigned to single-sex restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters and would have privacy protections (and possibly face legal action if someone of the opposite sex is present).
State and local agencies and institutions that collect vital statistics on sex (as male or female) and the general public who rely on those statistics, since the bill requires sex to be recorded as male or female at birth and allows 'unknown' in certain circumstances.

Key Provisions
Public entities may establish separate single-sex spaces or environments for males and females when biology, privacy, safety, or fairness are implicated.
Facilities listed (correctional facilities, domestic violence shelters, juvenile detention centers, public schools, and public higher education) must designate multi-occupancy restrooms, changing rooms, and sleeping quarters for exclusive use of either females or males and provide privacy from the opposite sex.
Entry into a restroom or changing room designated for one sex by a person of the opposite sex is prohibited; sharing sleeping quarters is prohibited unless the person is of that sex; civil action is allowed for violations.
Vital statistics data collection must identify individuals as male or female (with 'unknown' allowed where sex cannot be determined at birth) and may not require sex data unless required by law; the definition of 'sex' is tied to observed birth sex.
The act becomes effective October 1, 2025 and is severable; definitions of sex-based terms are established in Section 1-1-1.

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