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HB 23

Public preK-12 education; discussions of gender identity prohibited, employees prohibited from displaying flags or insignia relating to sexual orientation or gender identity and from referring to students by pronouns inconsistent with student's biological sex

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Mack Butler

Alabama bill prohibits K-12 teachers from discussing gender identity, displaying LGBTQ+ symbols, and using non-biological-sex pronouns with students.

Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy
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Bill Summary · HB 23

Legislative bill overview

HB 23 would prohibit public school employees from discussing gender identity with students and ban the display of LGBTQ+ flags or insignia in schools. The bill also restricts teachers from using pronouns that don't match a student's biological sex. These restrictions would apply across all preK-12 public education settings in Alabama.

Why is this important

This legislation directly affects how teachers interact with students regarding gender identity and self-expression, potentially impacting LGBTQ+ youth in educational environments. The bill raises practical questions about school safety reporting, student mental health resources, and how schools balance parental notification with student privacy and wellbeing.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "discussions": The bill doesn't clearly define what counts as prohibited discussion—whether it includes responding to student questions, addressing bullying, or discussing health/safety issues
  • Pronoun usage and student welfare: Restricting pronoun use conflicts with positions held by major medical organizations (American Psychological Association, American Medical Association) on affirming care for transgender youth, and may create liability concerns if misgendering contributes to documented harms
  • Free speech and employee rights: Teachers may argue restrictions on workplace expression and classroom speech raise First Amendment concerns, while supporters argue schools can regulate employee conduct
  • Biological sex definition: The bill references "biological sex" without defining it, creating ambiguity since sex characteristics (chromosomes, hormones, anatomy) don't always align
  • Implementation challenges: Schools would need to enforce pronoun restrictions and flag policies, potentially creating administrative complexity and litigation risk

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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