[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6339812,"mediaKeyId","2260728-3c4a7c753e07fedb47ab6001cae2bc3c","parentId",2260728,"title","House Health Committee advances SB 79, a bill to define male and female in state law, after contested public hearing","audioSeconds",1537,"startMs",916000,"endMs",2453000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260728-3c4a7c753e07fedb47ab6001cae2bc3c&start=916&end=2453","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260728-3c4a7c753e07fedb47ab6001cae2bc3c/thumbnail_916000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6339812/Alabama/House-Health-Committee-advances-SB-79-a-bill-to-define-male-and-female-in-state-law-after-contested-public-hearing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339812-7874c1d0fd63c31aa8d4201c9ec2d45b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442691&Signature=STxGZqHlqekYCLyRWM0F9MgEwu5CldtY2~mMZ7KRQfUEDn4F-fKpzb~bYsijtbN7XE8yoUpL0gJMt4CZ~Mmkaag4FQYqg~-A8L2WIOfp~ZhabpFt5B50BnLLtSlDZH1Bgf0TvxRFwqnW2t38wukA~moqE8YlWC9HTndiI0j5gevm3YvPlKtLmbQQKeQMe9y-JVMmGw73ItRwupMZP0AphCT0G97lPsLJs6NNDDNoOmq~NpIgw4Rh4ER0uqVOACvQbQy~YhKMAUzn-Cc0eUgu42o60RsPne3~MFLp9Xn-8TF1c~Crv7qI6x4GdiczLx3E6CCWl8JOMaPUY2I5v~Y9sg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama House Health Committee","date","2025-02-11T00:00:00Z","article","The Alabama House Health Committee voted to give a favorable report to SB 79, a bill that would define the terms ‘‘male,’’ ‘‘female,’’ ‘‘man’’ and ‘‘woman’’ in state law, after a public hearing that drew supporters and opponents and included questions from committee members about intersex people, birth certificates and privacy protections.

Sponsor testimony described the measure as a definitions bill and said it aims to provide clarity and certainty in state statutes. Senator Weaver and Representative Dubose (sponsors in the Senate and House) framed the bill as grounding legal definitions in biology; supporters included religious leaders and the Eagle Forum of Alabama. Opponents — including people who identified themselves as a biologist, family members, and people who said the bill would erase trans and intersex Alabamians — testified that the proposed definitions do not reflect modern biological complexity and could lead to harm.

During the public hearing, Bishop Tim Lowe testified in support, characterizing male and female distinctions as rooted in religious doctrine. Becky Garretson of Eagle Forum of Alabama supported the bill and said legal definitions are important for the accuracy of the state’s vital statistics. A biologist identified as Samuel Bartley (testimony read by Jordan Price) said the bill’s definitions were not those used in biology and warned the measure could target transgender people. Testifiers who identified as transgender or intersex described real-world consequences they said would follow from narrowing legal definitions.

Committee members asked specific questions about how the bill would treat people born with differences in sex development (DSD or intersex). The sponsor said the bill includes an accommodation provision and that ‘‘unknown’’ is used on birth certificates when sex cannot be determined at birth; the sponsor said that has occurred four times in the last five or six years in Alabama. Committee members also pressed sponsors on whether the bill would create policing of restrooms or sports; the sponsor said the bill does not create ‘‘bathroom police’’ and characterized the legislation as a definitions bill, while also noting it addresses public accommodations and single-sex spaces may exist under law.

Representative Rafferty proposed an amendment to add explicit privacy protections — for example, prohibiting compulsory genital inspections or monitoring devices in public facilities — but the amendment failed for lack of a second. The committee then voted by voice to give the bill a favorable report; no roll-call tally is recorded in the transcript.

Supporters said the measure would protect women’s opportunities in sports and preserve legal clarity. Opponents said the bill would erase transgender and intersex people from law, could harm access to services, and relies on disputed scientific claims. The committee advanced SB 79 to the next stage of the legislative process.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama House Health Committee February 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The House Health Committee gave SB 79 a favorable report after a lengthy public hearing that included testimony from religious leaders, advocacy groups, scientists and people with lived experience; an amendment to clarify privacy measures failed for lack of a second.","taxTitle","Health, House, Alabama Legislative Sessions, Alabama","taxId",15595,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6339816,"House Health panel gives favorable report to Medicaid screening expansion after budget questions",179,454000,633000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2260728-3c4a7c753e07fedb47ab6001cae2bc3c&start=454&end=633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2260728-3c4a7c753e07fedb47ab6001cae2bc3c/thumbnail_454000.jpg","/articles/6339816/Alabama/House-Health-panel-gives-favorable-report-to-Medicaid-screening-expansion-after-budget-questions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6339816-98e18e0c22f46282f4a4f1f78331d4b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442691&Signature=DIxA~g2mI2Ko4Rr1-3S6dz8XIgWeFSfCabi7t4xUZrbVD3lylG5l3gw21favabEg2fkaugIgBu55SBLo1BVij6kW-Vn9qDzgTpRRJGoSyz0otEzcJZaVBBbYsxIFkgEm0-EvWLgyw-8e6HBs9oJjWA1dADRZ3Wdbl1dAD3A4UPVLbQZYymWScbaEGV5gxDboOGi4mJMGYEhRmSyWkggHy4BEkiG-g8-n3adgiVSUnSH1YhswOZpziEk5nF7Y-E6eHMeFIL40FaTPiarcwGkvKw8g8eCRC2EcvVGhVZQcdNci1leRVlwmNGYCaycH9XFnrX75mMgaWC6G8vlHLTe~-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A majority of members of the Alabama House Health Committee gave a favorable report to a bill proposing expanded screening for colorectal disease in the Medicaid population, after committee members questioned the bill’s projected costs and potential savings.

Supporters told the committee that 44 other state Medicaid programs and Blue plans cover the test and that some states spend less than $500,000 annually on it. Sponsor testimony said earlier detection would prevent costlier procedures such as colonoscopies and avoid more expensive treatments that follow delayed diagnoses.

The bill’s sponsor (presented during the committee hearing) said physician groups and national advocacy organizations back the proposal. Representative Warren and other lawmakers pressed the sponsor on state budget impacts and whether the bill’s cost estimates were accurate given Alabama’s Medicaid finances. The sponsor responded that detecting even a small number of additional cases in the Medicaid population would pay for the program, and that proponents had reviewed other states’ experience.

Representative Marks moved to approve the bill and Representative Rigsby seconded the motion. The committee chair called for voice votes; committee members responded in the affirmative and the bill received a favorable committee report. The committee did not enter a recorded roll-call vote in the transcript.

The record includes repeated budget concerns from Representatives who said the state’s Medicaid finances are strained and asked whether general-fund resources would be sufficient. The sponsor acknowledged those concerns and said proponents believe savings from avoided advanced care would offset testing costs; the committee did not request or record new fiscal figures during the hearing.

The bill will proceed with the committee’s favorable report to the next stage of the legislative process.","A committee voted to give a favorable report to a bill expanding a colorectal screening test for Medicaid populations after members questioned the cost estimates and potential savings from earlier detection.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

House Health Committee advances SB 79, a bill to define male and female in state law, after contested public hearing

House Health panel gives favorable report to Medicaid screening expansion after budget questions