Bill Banning Gender Identity Discussions, Gender Flags in Public Schools Goes to House Floor for Vote
HB244, amended to remove non-biologic pronoun ban, received a favorable report out of committee
Alabama State Representative Mack Butler’s (R-Rainbow City) HB244 received a favorable report from the House Education Policy Committee on Wednesday.
HB244, as amended, will prohibit classroom discussions related to gender identity or sexual orientation in Alabama public schools in grades pre-K through 12. It will also prohibit public pre-K—12 teachers and education employees from displaying a flag or insignia related to sexual orientation or gender identity on school property.
The bill was amended to remove the portion of the bill prohibiting the use of non-biologic pronouns in public schools.
A friendly amendment was offered by Rep. Mark Gidley (R-Gadsden), following discussions with the State Board of Education. The amendment was not available online at press time.
Rep. Butler pointed out to the committee that HB244 expands on what was passed last year, extending the age range from K-8 to pre-K—12.
“The main gist of the bill was to expand the existing law to pre-K—12. That’s what prohibits classroom discussions of gender identity or sexual orientation,” Butler said. “We’re trying to get as close as we could to President Trump’s Executive Order.”
President Trump’s Executive Order “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” was signed on January 20th, 2025.
HB244 will now go to the full Alabama House for consideration.
UPDATE: Rep. Mack Butler gave ALPolitics.com the following statement Wednesday afternoon following HB244’s passage out of committee:
“Classroom instruction should focus on reading, writing, and arithmetic, not gender, sex, and controversial social issues. Discussions about gender, sex, and related topics should take place between parents and children in order to ensure their morals, values, and beliefs are passed down. With almost 40 thousand applications for the Choose Act announced just yesterday clearly there is a dissatisfaction with our public schools among parents which this bill should help,” Butler said.
The House leadership will now determine when HN244 will be brought before the House, which could be as early as Thursday, April 10th. Alabamians wanting to contact Leadership or their State Representative can find them on the Legislature’s web page HERE.
