MONTGOMERY — The House Education Policy Committee advanced amended legislation on Wednesday banning instruction and discussion related to gender identity or sexual orientation in public K-12 classrooms.
House Bill 244 (HB244), sponsored by State Rep. Mack Butler (R-Rainbow City), is an extension of a bill passed in 2022. The 2022 bill banned classroom instruction or discussions regarding gender identity or sexual orientation in a manner that is not "age or developmentally appropriate."
Butler attempted a similar bill during last year's legislative session, passing the House but stalling in the Senate.
According to Butler, HB244 would bring state law in line with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump, using the threat of cutting federal education funding for schools that continue to push "gender ideology" and other forms of "indoctrination."
The bill would also prohibit teachers and education employees from displaying a flag or insignia relating to sexual orientation or gender identity on school property and using pronouns that do not relate to a student's biological sex.
In presenting the bill before the committee, Butler pointed to the number of recent applications for the state's school choice program, the CHOOSE Act, stating it was indicative of disenchantment with the state's schools.
"You all saw the headlines yesterday; there was almost 40,000 applicants for the CHOOSE Act," Butler said. "Telling you that clearly there is a dissatisfaction with what we're doing in public education, and this bill will actually help."
Butler accepted an amendment to the bill offered by State Rep. Mark Gidley (R-Hokes Bluff).
The initial bill stated that "a school shall not engage in classroom discussion or provide classroom instruction regarding sexual orientation or gender identity." It also struck out current language from the law that stated the instruction could not be done "in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards." The substitute reinserted the previously removed provision.
The bill originally prevented teachers or school employees from "intentionally address[ing] a student by a pronoun or title that is inconsistent with the student's biological sex at birth."
The substitute bill removed that provision completely.
The bill ultimately passed the committee with only one audible "no" vote. HB244 will now go to the House floor for a vote before moving to the Senate.
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