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Bill

HB 246

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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Scott Stadthagen

Alabama bill grants legal immunity to students and teachers who refuse to use preferred pronouns or chosen names in public education institutions.

Currently Indefinitely Postponed
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Bill Summary · HB 246

Legislative bill overview

HB 246 would provide legal immunity to students and teachers in Alabama public schools, colleges, and universities who decline to use certain pronouns or names when addressing others. The bill essentially shields individuals from disciplinary action or legal liability for refusing to use preferred pronouns or chosen names that differ from legal names.

Why is this important

This bill addresses a contentious intersection of free speech, gender identity recognition, and institutional authority. It could significantly alter how educational institutions enforce anti-discrimination and respect policies, while raising questions about student safety, inclusivity obligations, and the limits of speech protections in educational settings.

Potential points of contention

  • Institutional autonomy vs. individual rights: Whether schools can maintain codes of conduct and anti-harassment policies if staff/students have blanket immunity for pronoun/name refusal
  • Protected class implications: Whether selective refusal to use pronouns constitutes discrimination against protected classes, and whether immunity undermines anti-discrimination obligations
  • Practical enforcement challenges: How institutions would address complaints from students who feel harassed or targeted by consistent pronoun/name refusal while protecting those declining usage
  • Scope ambiguity: The bill's definition of "certain pronouns or names" and whether this covers all scenarios or specific categories remains unclear from available text

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

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