Alabama House Bill 261

Alabama House Bill 261
Alabama Legislature
  • Relating to two-year and four-year public institutions of higher education; to amend Section 16-1-52, Code of Alabama 1975, to prohibit a biological male from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for females; to prohibit a biological female from participating on an athletic team or sport designated for males; to prohibit adverse action against a public K-12 school or public two-year or four-year institution of higher education for complying with this act; to prohibit adverse action or retaliation against a student who reports a violation of this act; and to provide a remedy for any student who suffers harm or is directly deprived of an athletic opportunity as a result of a violation of this act.
Citation[1]
Territorial extent Alabama
Enacted byAlabama House of Representatives
EnactedApril 18, 2023
Enacted byAlabama Senate
EnactedMay 3, 2023
Signed byKay Ivey
SignedMay 30, 2023
Legislative history
First chamber: Alabama House of Representatives
First readingApril 5, 2023
Second readingApril 12, 2023
Third readingApril 18, 2023
Voting summary
  • 83 voted for
  • 5 voted against
  • 14 abstained
  • 3 absent
Second chamber: Alabama Senate
Received from the Alabama House of RepresentativesApril 19, 2023
First readingApril 19, 2023
Second readingApril 27, 2023
Third readingMay 3, 2023
Voting summary
  • 26 voted for
  • 4 voted against
  • 1 abstained
  • 4 absent
Final stages
Finally passed both chambersMay 24, 2023
Summary
Prohibits Alabamians in colleges and universities from competing in sports or on a sports team differing from their sex assigned at birth, even if the individual has undergone gender-affirming hormone therapy, with the exception of co-ed sports.
Status: In force

Alabama House Bill 261 (HB261) is a 2023 law in the U.S. state of Alabama that prohibits colleges and universities from allowing individuals to compete in sports teams differing from their sex assigned at birth, thereby prohibiting transgender people from competing in sports aligning with their gender identity.[1] It was signed into law by governor Kay Ivey on May 30, 2023.[2]

House Bill 261 was an expansion upon House Bill 391, a 2021 bill which prohibited K-12 schools from allowing individuals to compete in sports differing from their sex assigned at birth.[3][4][5] The bill was criticized by civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and Human Rights Campaign, for discriminating against transgender and gender non-conforming people.[6][7]

Legislative history

House Bill 261 was sponsored in the House by Republican representative Susan DuBose.[8] In the Alabama House of Representatives, 14 lawmakers abstained, and 5 voted against it, with the final vote being 83-5.[9][10] The Alabama Senate approved the bill in May 2023 by a vote of 26-4.[10]

Provisions

House Bill 261 prohibits individuals from competing in a sports team or league that differs from their sex as determined in state law. Individuals are identified as either male or female in the law based upon biological sex characteristics.[9] The ban still applies to those who have undergone gender-affirming hormone therapy.[5][11] The bill does not affect co-ed sports.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Archie, Ayana (May 31, 2023). "Alabama's law limiting transgender athletes in sports now includes college students". NPR. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  2. ^ Rocha, Alander (May 30, 2023). "Gov. Kay Ivey signs ban on transgender college athletes". Alabama Reflector. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
  3. ^ "Alabama is latest state to ban trans girls from female sports teams". The Guardian. April 24, 2021. Retrieved November 30, 2025. Supporters of the bill, HB 391, say transgender girls are bigger and faster and have an unfair advantage.
  4. ^ Spitalniak, Laura (May 31, 2023). "Alabama passes law restricting transgender athletes' participation in college sports". Higher Ed Dive. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  5. ^ a b "Alabama expands ban on trans athletes to include college teams". NBC News. May 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  6. ^ a b Riess, Rebekah; Andone, Dakin (May 31, 2023). "Alabama governor signs bill placing limits on transgender athletes in college sports". CNN. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  7. ^ Fields, Aryn (April 18, 2023). "HRC Condemns Alabama House for Passing Discriminatory Anti-Transgender Sports Ban; Would Be State's Second Sports Ban and Fourth Anti-LGBTQ+ Law in Two Years". Human Rights Campaign. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  8. ^ Biertempfel, Maddie (April 12, 2023). "Alabama House advances bill banning transgender athletes at college level". CBS 42. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Alabama House OKs ban on trans athletes at a college level". Associated Press. April 19, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2025 – via WVTM 13.
  10. ^ a b Chandler, Kim (May 30, 2023). "Alabama expands ban on trans athletes to include college teams". Associated Press. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
  11. ^ "Alabama bans collegiate transgender athletes from female sports teams". CBS News. May 30, 2023. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
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