HB154 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Fetal Heartbeat Act, prohibits physician from performing abortion after heartbeat has been detected; abortion further defined, penalties

Summary

HB154 would ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, require heartbeat checks before abortion, and impose penalties on doctors with certain exemptions.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the bill defines abortion for this act and sets exceptions. It requires physicians to determine if a detectable heartbeat exists before performing an abortion and prohibits abortion once a heartbeat is detected, with specified medical exemptions. It also requires written documentation of the heartbeat testing and results, and imposes criminal penalties (Class C felony) and possible license suspension or revocation for providers who fail to test or who perform abortions after a heartbeat is detected. Pregnant women would not be prosecuted, and there are allowed exceptions when continuing the pregnancy would threaten the mother’s life or health, when the pregnancy is ectopic, or when a lethal fetal anomaly is present.

Who It Affects

• Physician abortion providers would be required to check for a detectable heartbeat before abortion, document the testing procedure and results, and could face criminal penalties or license consequences for violations.
• Pregnant women seeking abortion would be subject to the heartbeat requirement and its exceptions, and would not be prosecuted under this act.

Key Provisions

• Defines abortion for this act and lists exceptions (ectopic pregnancy, lethal anomaly; abortions allowed to save the mother’s life or preserve health under medical standards).
• Requires a physician to determine if a detectable heartbeat exists before performing an abortion and prohibits abortion after a heartbeat is detected, with the specified exceptions.
• Requires written documentation of the heartbeat determination and results, with records kept for at least seven years and available to the patient and state regulators.
• Imposes penalties on physicians: Class C felony for failing to determine heartbeat or for performing an abortion after heartbeat detection; license revocation and other disciplinary actions.
• Protections for patients: pregnant women are not prosecuted; an abortion is allowed if the heartbeat testing shows no heartbeat or if the procedure is necessary under life-saving or major health preservation exceptions.
• Effective date: becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.
• Notes about local funds: the bill includes constitutional considerations and is described as exempt from local-funds expenditure requirements because it defines a new crime or amends a crime.

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

Subjects

Abortion