SB211 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Greg AlbrittonSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

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

Summary

SB 211 would criminalize abortion and attempted abortion in Alabama as felonies, with limited exceptions to protect the mother's health and liability protections for the abortion recipient.

What This Bill Does

If passed, abortion would become a Class A felony and attempted abortion a Class C felony, with an exception when abortion is necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the mother. The bill provides that a woman who receives an abortion will not be criminally or civilly liable for receiving the abortion. For a permitted abortion under the health-risk exception, an attending physician must determine the necessity and a second Alabama-licensed physician must confirm in writing within 180 days, with that written confirmation serving as prima facie evidence of a permitted abortion. Medical emergencies are exempt, and the act would override conflicting abortion laws, taking effect six months after passage; it also notes a local-funding provision but states the bill is exempt from that requirement because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Women who seek or receive abortions: protected from criminal or civil liability for receiving the abortion, but the act would make other abortions illegal outside the health-risk exception.
• Physicians, clinics, and other providers who perform or assist with abortions: could face Class A felony charges for abortions performed outside the health-risk exception or Class C felony for attempted abortions, with liability protection when following the health-risk exception and in medical emergencies.

Key Provisions

• Abortion is a Class A felony and attempted abortion is a Class C felony, with a narrow exception for cases where abortion is necessary to prevent a serious health risk to the mother.
• A woman who receives an abortion will not be criminally or civilly liable for receiving the abortion.
• To permit an abortion under the health-risk exception, an attending physician must determine necessity and a second Alabama-licensed physician must confirm in writing within 180 days; the written confirmation is prima facie evidence of a permitted abortion.
• Medical emergencies are exempt from these provisions for physicians performing a termination due to emergency conditions.
• Abortion performed in violation of this act is a Class A felony; an attempted abortion performed in violation is a Class C felony.
• The act defines key terms such as abortion, ectopic pregnancy, lethal anomaly, medical emergency, physician, and serious health risk to the mother.
• The act supersedes conflicting abortion statutes and regulations; existing ones are repealed as null and void to the extent of conflict.
• Effective date is six months after passage and approval by the Governor.
• Note about local funds: the bill would affect local fund expenditures under Amendment 621, but is exempt from that requirement because it creates a new 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