Alabama lawmakers move to protect IVF in wake of national pressure

On Thursday, lawmakers in both chambers of Alabama’s state legislature passed bills to protect in-vitro fertilization (IVF) after a controversial ruling by the state’s Supreme Court made clinics halt the service under fear of prosecution.

Although both sides of the aisle voiced concerns for the legislation, the bills received near-universal bipartisan support. The main components of the bills are intended to ensure clinics that provide IVF services that they will not be prosecuted after the Alabama court ruled that embryos are human children.

The bills are expected to make their way to Gov. Kay Ivey’s (R) desk soon. Although Alabama’s new law is expected to pass, a federal bill introduced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) failed to gain Republican support in the Senate this week. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MI), who blocked the bill, said she fears it is “overreach.”

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) says she will ask the Senate to pass, via unanimous consent, her legislation to protect in-vitro fertilization:

“Mark my words, if we don’t act now, it will only get worse … We face a lot of tough calls as senators. This just isn’t one of them.” pic.twitter.com/Odc095rLlJ

— Heartland Signal (@HeartlandSignal) February 27, 2024