As the session continues to progress, we continue to see positive movement on several bills. We are now a little more than halfway through the legislative session, and are hopeful to see multiple significant bills signed into law before session concludes.
Baptist Press Highlights ALCAP’s Work
Baptist Press, the official news service of the Southern Baptist Convention, highlighted ALCAP’s work advocating for Rep. Greg Barnes bill, HB 363, which prohibits the disruption of a worship service. ALCAP president Greg Davis commented: “This protects houses of worship – not just churches, but synagogues, mosques, others – from any outside group organizing to come into their building and causing a disorderly scene, harassing, or, God forbid, causing some kind of riot during the worship time.” The article also highlighted numerous other states that are pursuing similar legislation. We will continue to advocate for this important bill, click the image below to read the whole article!
Legislation ALCAP is Monitoring
| Prohibiting Radical Gender Ideology in Schools (SB 331): This bill by Sen. Keith Kelley (Weaver) would amend Alabama law to prohibit classroom instruction in gender identity or sexual orientation for students in prekindergarten through twelfth grade. It also prohibits public preK-12 teachers and school employees from displaying flags or insignia related to sexual orientation or gender identity on school property. The bill further prohibits schools from intentionally referring to a student by pronouns inconsistent with the student’s biological sex. Status: SB 331 was introduced in the Senate committee on Education Policy on February 26th. |
Sex Education Bill (SB 209): By Senator Shay Shelnutt, this bill requires Alabama public K-12 schools to teach sex education exclusively through a sexual risk avoidance (abstinence-focused) framework. It also mandates parental notice and opt-out rights, bars schools from using outside providers that do not support abstinence or are connected to abortion services
Status: The bill was introduced to the Senate Education Policy committee on January 27th and reported out of committee on February 11th. It passed the Senate floor on February 19th, and has now been sent to the House Education Policy committee.
Prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance (HB 43): This bill by Rep. Reed Ingram proposes a constitutional amendment requiring public K-12 schools to conduct The Pledge of Allegiance at the start of each school day it also requires local school boards to vote on whether to allow voluntary daily prayer and Bible or other religious text readings with written consent.
Status: The bill was introduced on January 13th in the House committee on Education Policy.
Prohibiting the Disruption of a Worship Service (HB 363): This bill by Rep. Greg Barnes (Jasper) creates a specific offense for intentionally disrupting a church worship service or harassing worshippers, including actions on church property meant to block entry or exit. Violators would be charged with disruption of a worship service. In the Senate, Senator Chris Elliott (Josephine) has agreed to help move the bill forward as well. To hear more about this issue, and recent example from Minnesota, check out the podcast below.
Status: The bill was introduced in the House on January 29th and passed the Public Safety and Homeland Security committee on February 5th, it then passed the House Judiciary committee on the 18th, passed the House floor on February 24th, it has been referred to the Senate Committee on County and Municipal Government.
School Chaplains (HB 8/SB 305): These companion bills by Rep. Mark Gidley (Gadsden) and Sen. Rodger Smitherman (Birmingham) would authorize each local boards of education to vote on whether to accept a campus chaplain as a volunteer to provide services at the request of a teacher.
Status: HB 8 passed out of the House Education Policy committee on February 4th and passed the House February 24th. SB 305 was referred to the Senate Education Policy committee on February 12th, and made it out of committee on the 18th. It passed the Senate floor on February 25th. Both bills now go to the other house.
