The proposed bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to raise the age at which minors can legally consent to medical, dental, and mental health services from 14 to 16 years. It introduces provisions allowing certain minors—specifically those who are married, pregnant, emancipated, or living independently—to consent to their own medical treatment. Additionally, the bill ensures that health care providers and governmental entities cannot deny parents access to their minor child's health information, with exceptions for court orders or criminal investigations. It also affirms the fundamental right of parents to make health care decisions for their children, while establishing that no minor under 16 can receive mental health services without parental consent.

Key amendments include a broader definition of "mental health services" to include guidance counseling and bullying prevention programs, as well as requirements for local boards of education to adopt policies regarding parental consent for mental health services. The bill specifies that minors aged 16 to 19 can have treatment authorized by parents or guardians even if the minor refuses, contingent upon a mental health professional's agreement on the necessity of intervention. The language changes include replacing "opt-in" with "opt in" and clarifying the criteria for minors to consent to various health services. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-22-16, 22-8-4, 22-8-6, 22-8-9, 22-8-10, 22-8-12, 22-8-13, 16-22-16, 22-8-4, 22-8-6, 22-8-9, 22-8-10
Engrossed: 16-22-16, 22-8-4, 22-8-6, 22-8-9, 22-8-10, 22-8-12, 22-8-13, 16-22-16, 22-8-4, 22-8-6, 22-8-9, 22-8-10