SB331 • 2026

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

Education Labor

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Kelley
Last action: 2026-02-26
Official status: Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary and text do not provide specific details on enforcement mechanisms or consequences for violations.

Education Rules About Gender Identity

This bill stops teachers from talking about gender identity or sexual orientation in school and limits how they can refer to students.

What This Bill Does

It does not allow classroom instruction or discussions related to gender identity or sexual orientation for public school students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade.
Teachers cannot display flags or insignia relating to sexual orientation or gender identity on school property.
Teachers are not allowed to refer to a student by pronouns that do not match the student's biological sex at birth.

Who It Names or Affects

Public school teachers and education employees
Students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade

Terms To Know

Biological Sex: The physical characteristics that determine if someone is male or female, based on their body.
Pronouns: Words like 'he', 'she', and 'they' used to refer to a person.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify what happens if teachers break these rules.
It is unclear how the State Board of Education will enforce these new rules.

Bill History

2026-02-26 Senate
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-02-26 Senate
Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy

Official Summary Text

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

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

SB331 INTRODUCED
Page 0
SB331
7BYD7E2-1
By Senator Kelley
RFD: Education Policy
First Read: 26-Feb-26
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7BYD7E2-1 01/13/2026 GP (L) lg 2026-227
Page 1
First Read: 26-Feb-26
SYNOPSIS:
Under existing law, classroom instruction or
discussions regarding gender identity or sexual
orientation may not be provided to public school
students in kindergarten through fifth grade in a
manner that is not age or developmentally appropriate
or is not in accordance with state standards.
This bill would prohibit classroom instruction
or discussions related to gender identity or sexual
orientation from being provided to public school
students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade.
This bill would prohibit public preK-12 teachers
and education employees from displaying a flag or
insignia relating to sexual orientation or gender
identity on school property.
This bill would also prohibit public preK-12
teachers and education employees from referring to a
student by pronouns inconsistent with the student's
biological sex at birth.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
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SB331 INTRODUCED
Page 2
Relating to education; to amend Section 16-40A-5, Code
of Alabama 1975; to prohibit classroom instruction in public
school prekindergarten through the twelfth grade related to
gender identity or sexual orientation; to prohibit education
employees from displaying certain flags and insignia on public
preK-12 school property; and to prohibit education employees
from referring to a student by pronouns inconsistent with the
student's biological sex.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. Section 16-40A-5, Code of Alabama 1975, is
amended to read as follows:
"§16-40A-5
(a) An individual or group of individuals providing
classroom instruction to students in kindergarten
prekindergarten through the fifth twelfth grade at a public
K-12 preK-12 school shall not engage in classroom discussion
or provide classroom instruction regarding sexual orientation
or gender identity in a manner that is not age appropriate or
developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with
state standards .
(b) No teacher, or other public preK-12 employee, may
display a flag or other insignia relating to or representing
sexual orientation or gender identity in a classroom or on the
property of a public preK-12 school.
(c) No teacher, or other public preK-12 employee, may
intentionally address a student by a pronoun or title that is
inconsistent with the student's biological sex at birth.
(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
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SB331 INTRODUCED
Page 3
(d) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules for
the implementation and enforcement of this section."
Section 2. This act shall become effective on July 1,
2026.
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