Bills to make abortion murder, limit LGBTQ issues in Alabama schools die

As lawmakers prepare to wrap up the 2023 legislative session, a number of bills relating to reproductive health, gender identity and parenting have been introduced.

With very limited time left in the session, and very few chances for bills still in progress to pass, most efforts from Democrats and Republicans to charge abortion as murder, limit discussions about LGBTQ identity and address gender pay imbalances appear failed.

Alabama currently bans almost all abortions and penalizes providers, not mothers. An effort to penalize women who seek abortions did not move forward. A bill that would limit drag shows to spaces where no children are present also died.

In Alabama, a bill is filed and given a number, then introduced in the House or the Senate. Then, most bills are assigned to a committee, where they are discussed and will either be passed out of committee or die. Once they’ve passed, they head back to the chamber they originated in, where they receive a second read. If a bill is reported favorably, it’s put on the regular calendar. Bills on the regular calendar are eligible for a third read and a vote. If they pass, they move on to the next chamber and repeat the process. Bills must be passed by both chambers and be signed by Gov. Kay Ivey in order to become law.

*Note: This list compiles previous reporting, but is not intended to be exhaustive.

Here’s where the bills currently stand:

Health care and reproductive access:

SB34 - Would repeal the Alabama Human Life Protection Act

Status: Introduced, referred to Judiciary committee in Senate

Read more: Sen. Figures on abortion bills: ‘Women are still crying out loudly’

SB35 - Would create exceptions for abortion bans in cases of rape or incest

Status: Introduced, referred to Judiciary committee in Senate

Read more: Alabama lawmaker files bills to overturn state abortion ban, allow rape, incest provisions

HB208 - Would create a tax credit for those who donate to eligible pregnancy resource centers

Status: Passed House, referred to Finance and Taxation Education committee in Senate

Read more: Alabama lawmakers propose tax credits for anti-abortion center donors

HB17 - Would repeal the state abortion ban in place prior to Roe vs. Wade

Status: Introduced, referred to Health committee in House

Read more: Lawmaker wants to repeal Alabama’s old misdemeanor abortion law that was in place before Roe v. Wade

HB454 - Would allow people who terminate pregnancies to be charged with murder or assault

Status: Introduced, referred to Judiciary committee in House

Read more: Alabama would prosecute abortion as murder under newly introduced bill

HB182 - Would allow people to claim ‘unborn children’ as independents on taxes

Status: Introduced, referred to Ways and Means committee in House

Read more: Alabama bill would let residents claim ‘unborn child’ as a dependent on taxes

Gender identity:

HB261 - Would force college athletes to participate on teams that align with the gender on their birth certificate

Status: Signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey on May 30, 2023.

Read more: Alabama bans transgender women from college female sports teams: ‘It’s about fairness,’ Ivey says

Alabama House passes bill that would restrict transgender athletes in college sports

Biden Title IX proposal protects transgender athletes, as Alabama weighs collegiate ban

HB354 - Would extent limits on conversations surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity from fifth to eighth grade

Status: Introduced and referred to Education policy in House

Read more: Alabama lawmakers want to extend limits on school discussions about LGBTQ issues

HB401 - Would ban drag shows and other ‘lascivious’ behavior from schools, public libraries or other places where children might be present.

Status: Introduced in house of origin.

Read more: Alabama bill would expand definition of sexual, obscene conduct in public.

HB405 - Would define terms like ‘man’ and ‘woman’ based on reproductive organs; put gender binary in state law

Status: Reported out of Health committee in House

Read more: ‘What is a woman?’ bill approved by Alabama House committee

Montgomery rally for LGBTQ rights: ‘We’re still fighting’

Wages and families:

HB368 - Would establish employer tax credits and child care provider tax credits

Status: Introduced and referred to Ways and Means Education committee in House

Read more: A child care tax credit might get support from a bipartisan group of Alabama lawmakers this year

Alabama wage gap task force to push for childcare, education priorities in next legislative session

Report: Alabama parents miss work for child care issues at highest rate in nation

HB331 - Would make it illegal for potential employers to ask about past salary

Status: Introduced and referred to Commerce and Small Business committee in House

Read more coverage of gender and politics issues:

Should employers ask about past salary? This Alabama group wants to outlaw the question

Task force: Increasing Alabama women’s pay, gender equity would bring $22 billion to state

Alabama advocates plan to address state’s ongoing gender wage gap