Alabama lawmakers approved legislation requiring teachers to report parents when children arrive at school smelling of marijuana, sparking debate over government overreach and family rights.

New Requirements and Penalties

The House-passed bill prohibits smoking or vaping marijuana in vehicles with anyone under 19 years old present. Violations carry Class A misdemeanor charges with potential one-year jail sentences. Offenders must complete education courses through the Alabama Department of Public Health covering marijuana’s negative impacts on children and secondhand smoke dangers. The legislation defines mandatory reporters, including teachers, who must contact the Department of Human Resources when students smell like marijuana.

Representative Sellers, the bill’s Democratic sponsor, emphasized protecting children from harmful secondhand marijuana exposure. He described scenarios where parents smoking in enclosed vehicles send children to school reeking of marijuana on their clothes and bodies. The legislation aims to prevent such situations by establishing clear consequences for exposing minors to cannabis smoke.

Opposition Raises Concerns

Representative Juandalynn Givan from Birmingham opposed the measure, arguing existing laws provide sufficient protection. She expressed concerns about unintended consequences, particularly regarding racial profiling and disproportionate enforcement against minorities. Givan warned that mandatory reporting requirements could unfairly target families of color who may face heightened scrutiny from authorities and school officials.

Legislative Path Forward

The voting breakdown revealed unusual Democratic Party divisions, with five members supporting the bill, fifteen abstaining, and only two voting against it. Seven Democrats, including sponsor Sellers, did not vote. Republicans overwhelmingly supported the measure with two abstentions. The legislation now advances to the Alabama Senate for consideration before potentially reaching Governor Kay Ivey’s desk. If approved and signed, the new requirements take effect October 1, giving families and schools time to understand reporting obligations and compliance expectations.