MONTGOMERY — On Wednesday, House Education Policy committee lawmakers approved legislation by House Majority Leader Scott Stadthagen (R-Hartselle) prohibiting public school and university employees from using alternative names and pronouns without parental consent while protecting teachers and students who refuse to do so.
House Bill 246 (HB246) states that a public school or higher education employee may not "knowingly and intentionally address an unemancipated minor student by a name, a pronoun, or title that is patently inconsistent with the student's sex without the written permission of a student's parent or guardian."
The bill continues Stadthagen's work from last year, which did not reach the finish line before the session ended.
The bill would protect students and employees from disciplinary action for declining to use names and pronouns that don't correspond to a student's biological sex. If a school or university violates the bill's provisions, the offended party would be entitled to monetary damages, reasonable attorney fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief.
Stadthagen presented the bill without any pushback or discussion from lawmakers.
State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) offered a substitute on the bill, cleaning up technical language and clarifying when a person's gender identity or preferred name and pronouns could be subject to the bill's provisions.
The bill passed through committee without any protest from lawmakers, and it will now go to the House floor for a vote.
In early April, lawmakers held a public hearing on HB 246, which attracted nearly a dozen transgender advocates, mostly men in women's attire, to protest the bill.
Thursday will be the 23rd legislative day for the 2025 session, giving lawmakers only seven working days to complete their work.
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