HB81 • 2026

State government; use of term "West Bank" prohibited as reference to Judea and Samaria

Labor

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Gidley
Last action: 2026-01-13
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official status label says 'Passed Legislature,' but the last action listed is 'Pending Committee Action.' This suggests a discrepancy between the metadata and the actual legislative progress shown in the text.

HB81: Rules for Naming Judea and Samaria in State Documents

This bill stops Alabama state agencies from using the term "West Bank" to describe a specific region of land, requiring them to use "Judea and Samaria" instead unless an official grants special permission.

What This Bill Does

Prohibits government entities from writing or speaking about Judea and Samaria as the "West Bank" in any official documents.
Bans the use of state money to create materials that call this region the "West Bank."
Allows the head of a government entity to grant an exception if they decide it is in the best interest of the state.
Requires officials who grant exceptions to send a written explanation to the Legislature or Legislative Council within 30 days.

Who It Names or Affects

The State of Alabama and its subdivisions, agencies, and instrumentalities.
Officials in charge of government entities who have the power to waive the rule.
Employees creating official guidance, rules, briefings, press releases, or work products.

Terms To Know

Government Entity: The state itself and any of its parts, agencies, or tools used to run government business.
Judea and Samaria: Land liberated by Israel from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War; land south of Jerusalem is considered "Judea" and land north of Jerusalem is considered "Samaria."
Official Government Material: Any guidance, rule, material, briefing, press release, communication, or work product document prepared by a government entity.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not take effect until October 1, 2026.
It is unclear if this rule applies to private schools or universities unless they are defined as state instrumentalities.

Bill History

2026-01-13 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-01-13 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on State Government

Official Summary Text

State government; use of term "West Bank" prohibited as reference to Judea and Samaria

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB81 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB81
QNLNH41-1
By Representative Gidley
RFD: State Government
First Read: 13-Jan-26
PFD: 17-Dec-25
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QNLNH41-1 06/18/2025 GP (L)GP 2025-2104
Page 1
PFD: 17-Dec-25
SYNOPSIS:
This bill would prohibit any government entity
from using the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and
Samaria in any official government document.
This bill would also provide a mechanism for the
head of a government entity to waive the prohibition.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to state government; to prohibit any
government entity from using the term "West Bank" to refer to
Judea and Samaria; to provide a waiver from the prohibition;
and to provide Legislative findings.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. The Legislature finds and declares the
following:
(1) The regions known as Judea and Samaria are the
ancestral heartland of the Jewish people, comprising the
historical, spiritual, and geographical core of the Land of
Israel.
(2) The names "Judea" and "Samaria" are the
historically, biblically, and legally accurate terms for the
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HB81 INTRODUCED
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historically, biblically, and legally accurate terms for the
region. "Samaria" derives from the city established by King
Omri, as recorded in 1 Kings 16:24. "Judea" refers to the
territory of the Tribe of Judah, which included Jerusalem,
Hebron, and surrounding regions.
(3) The use of the term "West Bank" is a deliberate
attempt to erase the Jewish identity of Judea and Samaria and
to obscure the deep historical, religious, and legal
connections of the Jewish people to the land.
Section 2. (a) For the purposes of this act, the
following terms have the following meanings:
(1) GOVERNMENT ENTITY. The state, including any
subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof.
(2) JUDEA AND SAMARIA. The land liberated by Israel
from Jordan during the 1967 Six-Day War by its historical name
of "Judea and Samaria," with the land south of Jerusalem being
considered "Judea" and the land north of Jerusalem being
considered "Samaria."
(3) OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT MATERIAL. Any guidance, rule,
material, briefing, press release, communication, or work
product document prepared by a government entity.
(b) No government entity may:
(1) Use the term "West Bank" to refer to Judea and
Samaria in any official government material; or
(2) Use state funds to create an official government
material that refers to Judea and Samaria as "West Bank."
(c) The executive head of a government entity may waive
the prohibition provided in subsection (b) if he or she does
both of the following:
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HB81 INTRODUCED
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both of the following:
(1) Determines that it is in the interests of the state
to waive the prohibition.
(2) No later than 30 days after the date on which he or
she determines it is in the interests of the state to waive
the prohibition, submits a written explanation of the waiver
to:
a. The Legislature, if the Legislature is in session;
or
b. The Legislative Council, if the Legislature is not
in session.
Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1, 2026.
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