HB 246 Alabama House · 2025 Regular Session

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

HB 246, also known as the "Free to Speak Act," affects public schools, colleges, and universities, their employees, and students. The bill prohibits employees from using a student's non-legal name or pronouns inconsistent with their biological sex without written parental permission. It protects employees from adverse employment action and students from disciplinary action if they decline to use such names or pronouns, or if they decline to identify their own pronouns. The bill defines "sex" as an individual's biological sex at birth. Individuals harmed by violations can pursue legal action against the public school or institution for injunctive relief and damages.

Issues: ✗ Education

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Feb 11, 2025 Last action May 6, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Education Policy 1st Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to remove the creation of a private cause of action for legal violations, renumber sections, and update the effective date from October 1, 2025 to October 1, 2025 (no change in date, but section renumbering occurred). The bill's core protections for students and employees regarding names and pronouns remain largely intact, though the language was tightened to require that names/pronouns be 'patently inconsistent' with biological sex.

Scope change

The bill's scope was narrowed by removing the provision that allowed individuals to sue public schools for violations of the act.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed Section 4 which created a private cause of action allowing individuals to sue public schools for injunctive relief, monetary damages, and attorney fees for violations of the act.

DEFINITION

Changed the language regarding names and pronouns from 'inconsistent with' to 'patently inconsistent with' a student's biological sex, potentially narrowing the scope of prohibited conduct.

TECHNICAL

Renumbered sections and updated bill header information to reflect the Education Policy Substitute version.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 16, 2025

Lower · Passed

Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

lower

Feb 11, 2025

Lower · Passed

Pending Committee Action in House of Origin (Education Policy)

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors