Alabama Pay Equity, Salary History Legislation Signed Into Law

Alabama is banning wage discrimination and protecting job applicants who choose to withhold their salary histories under a measure Gov. Kay Ivey signed into law.

The state joins 48 others with laws banning wage discrimination on the basis of gender. Now only Mississippi lacks a gender pay equity law. Act No. 2019-519 (H.B. 225) is due to take effect Aug. 1 after Ivey (R) signed it June 10.

Alabama also joins a growing number of states—more than a dozen so far—that restrict some or all employers from requiring job applicants to disclose their previous salaries or wages. Pay-equity advocates say ...