HB493 Alabama 2012 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Notable

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jack Williams
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2012
Title: Abortions, ectopic pregnancies excluded from definition of "abortion" when used in Code of Alabama 1975 and the Alabama Administrative Code, certain requirements relating to probable post-fertilization age clarified
Summary: HB493 clarifies that ectopic pregnancy procedures are not abortions unless stated, and limits embryo age reporting and age-determination requirements to abortions only.
What This Bill Does
The bill says doctors are not required to determine the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child before any procedure that is not an abortion. It also says reporting rules for fetal deaths and pregnancy terminations only require reporting of probable age for abortion procedures. It defines ectopic pregnancy and specifies that the term 'abortion' does not include ectopic pregnancies unless a law says it applies to ectopic pregnancies. The changes take effect immediately after approval.

Who It Affects
Physicians and other medical providers: not required to determine embryo age for non-abortion procedures; the age-determination requirement applies only to abortions.
Hospitals, clinics, and medical records/reporting staff: reporting of fetal deaths and pregnancy terminations is limited to abortion procedures; ectopic pregnancy procedures are not counted as abortion.

Key Provisions
Section 1 defines ectopic pregnancy as a pregnancy where the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus (including the cornu of the uterus).
Section 2 states that 'abortion' in the Code and Administrative Code does not include terminating an ectopic pregnancy unless the law expressly says it applies to ectopic pregnancies.
Section 3 makes the age-determination requirement for abortions apply only to abortion procedures and clarifies that fetal-death/pregnancy-termination reporting applies only to abortions.
Section 4 makes the act effective immediately after passage/approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Health