HB314 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Terri CollinsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Abortion, make abortion a Class A felony and attempted abortion a Class C felony

Summary

HB 314 would make abortion and attempted abortion felonies in Alabama, with narrow medical exceptions to protect the mother's health, and would shield women and doctors from liability when those exceptions are used.

What This Bill Does

It makes abortion a Class A felony and attempted abortion a Class C felony, except when necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the mother. An abortion is allowed only if an attending physician determines it is necessary to prevent a serious health risk, and this determination must be written and confirmed by a second Alabama-licensed physician within 180 days, with that written confirmation serving as evidence of a permitted abortion. Women who receive abortions and physicians who confirm the risk are not criminally or civilly liable for those actions. The act defines the unborn child as a person, repeals conflicting abortion laws, and becomes effective six months after passage.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women seeking abortions: could face felony charges for abortions not allowed by the act, but would not be liable if the abortion is performed under the act's medical exceptions.
• Physicians and health care providers who perform, attempt, or confirm abortions: would face felony penalties if they do not follow the act's exceptions; they must obtain a second physician's written confirmation within 180 days for permitted abortions and are shielded from liability when acting within the act's rules.

Key Provisions

• Abortion becomes a Class A felony and attempted abortion becomes a Class C felony, with limited exceptions for preventing a serious health risk to the mother of the unborn child.
• An abortion is permitted only if an attending physician determines it is necessary to prevent a serious health risk; a second physician in Alabama must confirm this in writing within 180 days, and the confirmation acts as prima facie evidence of a permitted abortion.
• Women who receive abortions and physicians who confirm the health risk are not criminally or civilly liable for those actions; the act provides immunity for these scenarios.
• The act defines the unborn child as a person and includes related definitions (e.g., medical emergency, serious health risk, ectopic pregnancy, lethal anomaly).
• The act would repeal conflicting abortion laws and regulations, and it becomes effective six months after passage.

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