Alabama lawmakers hustled through legislation on Wednesday that prevented in vitro fertilization providers from facing legal liability following last month’s state Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen embryos have the rights of children.
The controversial decision sparked outcry across the state and nation and led to three major IVF providers in the state to close their doors, at least temporarily, before the state legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure that was then quickly signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey.
“The overwhelming support of SB (Senate Bill) 159 from the Alabama Legislature proves what we have been saying: Alabama works to foster a culture of life, and that certainly includes IVF,” Ivey said in a statement Wednesday night.
“I am confident that this legislation will provide the assurances our IVF clinics need and will lead them to resume services immediately.”
Providers won’t face civil lawsuits or criminal prosecution if there is “damage or death of an embryo” during IVF services, the law states.
