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AlabamaSB2092026 Regular SessionSenate

Public K-12 schools; sex education (sex ed) curriculum further provided for, sexual risk avoidance established as sex ed curriculum, policies of local boards of education related to sex ed further provided for, parent or guardian notice of sex ed curriculum required, Attorney General authorized to enforce

Sponsored By: Shay Shelnutt (Republican)

Enacted

Education

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.

Alabama parents get notice and opt-out rights

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama public schools must give parents or guardians written notice at least 14 days before covered instruction. This covers sex education and human reproduction lessons or programs. Upon request, schools must make the full curriculum available before distributing materials to students. Parents or guardians can opt their child out without penalty. The Alabama Attorney General can ask a court to order compliance with the law's sex education requirements.

Alabama schools face outside instructor limits

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama local school boards face limits on outside help with sex education or human reproduction instruction. Individuals and organizations must endorse sexual risk avoidance as the main approach to sex education. Boards cannot use providers that perform abortions, refer for abortion services, fund abortions, advocate for abortions, or otherwise support abortions.

Alabama schools face sex education content limits

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama public K–12 sex education and human reproduction content cannot promote abortion or sexual activity. Schools cannot introduce sexual behavior concepts through sexual health or sexually transmitted infection lessons in kindergarten through fourth grade. Covered content cannot include sexually explicit images, materials, or videos, or classroom demonstrations of contraceptives. Schools cannot include instructions for obtaining contraception or referrals for contraception or abortion services. They also cannot misrepresent how well contraception works.

Alabama students get abstinence-focused sex education

Beginning October 1, 2026, Alabama public K–12 schools must use sexual risk avoidance when teaching sex education or human reproduction. This approach focuses on avoiding sexual activity to prevent health risks. Lessons must be age-appropriate and medically accurate. They must describe abstinence from all sexual activity as the only 100% effective way to prevent unintended pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and sexually transmitted HIV. They must call abstinence outside marriage the best health practice for unmarried school-age students. Sexual activity includes vaginal, oral, and anal sex, outercourse, and mutual masturbation. Lessons must teach ways to delay sex and explain its physical, social, emotional, psychological, financial, and educational risks. Contraception information must explain effectiveness and limits, state that it does not eliminate risk, and support the sexual-risk-avoidance message. Lessons must cover laws on pregnancy, childbirth, raising children, abortion, domestic infant adoption, and safe-haven options for surrendering infants. Abortion instruction must explain the procedure and Alabama's ban, including its limited medical exceptions. Lessons must cover sexual abuse laws, reporting duties, victims' legal options, and ways to recognize and resist abuse, coercion, assault, and exploitation. Students must learn to resist unwanted peer pressure and avoid cyberbullying, sexting, pornography, and online sexual predators, including related legal risks. Parenting instruction must cover two-parent households' benefits, child support duties, and penalties for nonpayment. It must explain teen pregnancy's effects on parents, children, society, education, and finances. It must also cover unintended pregnancy options, challenges of parenting, abortion and adoption decisions, fetal development, and maternal and infant health.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Shay Shelnutt

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 307 • No: 50

House vote • 4/7/2026

Third Reading in Second House

Yes: 98 • No: 1 • Other: 1

House vote • 4/7/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1213

Yes: 82 • No: 16 • Other: 6

House vote • 4/7/2026

DuBose motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1212

Yes: 71 • No: 30 • Other: 1

Senate vote • 2/19/2026

Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 497

Yes: 26 • No: 3

Senate vote • 2/19/2026

Third Reading in House of Origin

Yes: 30 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Enacted

    4/17/2026Senate

  2. Third Reading in Second House

    4/7/2026House

  3. Lands 1st Amendment Offered

    4/7/2026House

  4. DuBose motion to Table - Adopted Roll Call 1212

    4/7/2026House

  5. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 1213

    4/7/2026House

  6. Ready to Enroll

    4/7/2026Senate

  7. Enrolled

    4/7/2026Senate

  8. Delivered to Governor

    4/7/2026Senate

  9. Signature Requested

    4/7/2026House

  10. Reported Out of Committee Second House

    3/17/2026House

  11. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    3/17/2026House

  12. Third Reading in House of Origin

    2/19/2026Senate

  13. Motion to Read a Third Time and Pass - Adopted Roll Call 497

    2/19/2026Senate

  14. Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Education Policy

    2/19/2026House

  15. Pending Committee Action in Second House

    2/19/2026House

  16. Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar

    2/12/2026Senate

  17. Reported Out of Committee House of Origin

    2/11/2026Senate

  18. Read for the first time and referred to the Senate Committee on Education Policy

    1/27/2026Senate

  19. Pending Committee Action in House of Origin

    1/27/2026Senate

Bill Text

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