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