Susan DuBose

Action: DuBose presented Senate Bill 79 in the House. Sen. April Weaver sponsored the bill, which became law in 2025. It defines words such as “male,” “female,” “man,” and “woman” based on the reproductive system that produces sperm or eggs. It allows state and local governments to set aside spaces for males or females when privacy, safety, biology, or fairness is involved. It does not require them to create those spaces.

Who may be affected: The definitions may affect transgender people and intersex people, who are born with differences in sex development. They can also affect rules for spaces such as school facilities and prisons. The law says people with a diagnosed difference in sex development must be accommodated under state and federal law.

Supporters say: DuBose said the definitions would make the meaning of these words clearer and more consistent across Alabama laws and courts.

Critics say: The Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition and other opponents said the law could discriminate against transgender and intersex people. During debate, a lawmaker also questioned how the rules might work in restrooms and changing areas.

Final law text: SB79
Alabama Reflector: House debate and competing views
Alabama Reflector: signing and opponents' response

Action: DuBose sponsored HB261, which became law in 2023. At Alabama's public two-year and four-year colleges, it bars biological males from women's teams and biological females from men's teams in sports played against other colleges. Teams open to both sexes are exempt, and the restrictions do not cover intramural sports played within a college. A student harmed by a violation can bring a lawsuit.

Who may be affected: Transgender students, other college athletes, and public colleges may be affected by who can join a team and how colleges apply the rules.

Supporters say: DuBose described the bill as protecting women's sports. Gov. Kay Ivey said it was about fairness for female athletes.

Critics say: Civil-rights groups say the law keeps transgender students from joining teams that match their gender identity. During the 2023 debate, Alabama's higher-education commission director raised concerns about federal funding under rules being considered at the time. Other lawmakers questioned whether Alabama had documented a need for the law.

Final law text: HB261
Governor's office: signing and supporters' explanation
Alabama Reflector: House vote, bill details, and opposing concerns
Human Rights Campaign: civil-rights criticism

Action: DuBose presented SB209 in the House; Sen. Shay Shelnutt sponsored it. The law took effect October 1, 2026. Public schools that teach sex education must use a “sexual risk avoidance” approach that emphasizes avoiding sexual activity. Lessons may not introduce sexual-behavior concepts in kindergarten through fourth grade. Schools must notify parents at least 14 days before lessons and let them review the full curriculum on request or opt their child out without a penalty.

What can be taught: The law requires medically accurate information about birth-control effectiveness and limits, within its sexual-risk-avoidance approach. It prohibits birth-control demonstrations, instructions or referrals for obtaining birth control, and instructions or referrals for obtaining an abortion. It also limits which outside educators schools can use.

Who may be affected: Students, parents, teachers, and outside health educators may be affected by the lesson rules and parents' choices. Required topics include recognizing abuse, pressure to engage in sexual activity, and exploitation, along with how to report them.

Supporters say: DuBose said the changes update lessons for issues such as sexting and cyberbullying. Supporters emphasize abstinence, accurate health information, and parent involvement. Students who spoke in favor at a hearing said the approach taught useful skills, including consent.

Critics say: A nurse and AIDS Alabama's policy director argued for broader sex education and access to information that could help prevent sexually transmitted infections. Rep. Marilyn Lands objected to the birth-control restrictions and offered an amendment to allow more information; it failed.

Final law text: SB209
Alabama Reflector: supporters and health advocates at committee
Alabama Reflector: House vote and contraception amendment
1819 News: signing and provisions

Action: DuBose sponsored HB209, the House version of Parker's Law. Sen. April Weaver's Senate version, SB76, became law and took effect October 1, 2025. It lets nursing mothers request to be excused from jury duty. Once excused, they are exempt for two years.

Who may be affected: Nursing mothers called for jury duty may be able to avoid arranging care for an infant or bringing the baby to court. Courts are also affected by who is available to serve.

Supporters say: DuBose said the bill followed a local mother's experience of being called to jury duty with her three-month-old baby. The House passed her version unanimously.

Details: A mother must provide a written statement that she is nursing and a birth certificate, government document, or medical record confirming the child's birth. After the two-year exemption, the court may call her for jury duty again.

Final law text: SB76 (Parker's Law)
House-passed version: HB209
Alabama Reflector: bill and unanimous House vote
256 Today: law taking effect and its origin