HB261 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew SorrellAuditor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Abortion, ban non-surgical, chemical abortions, criminal penalties, Alabama Chemical Abortion Prohibition Act

Summary

HB261 would ban non-surgical, chemical abortions in Alabama and criminalize the abortion pill (RU-486).

What This Bill Does

It would make it unlawful to manufacture, distribute, prescribe, dispense, sell, or transfer RU-486 or any similar abortifacient drug in Alabama. Violations would be classified as a Class C felony. The bill also states that a woman cannot be criminally charged for the death of her unborn child from using an abortifacient. It includes a provision that conflicts with other chemical abortion laws would be repealed, and it would take effect immediately after passage and governor approval; there is a carve-out making it exempt from certain local-funding requirements due to a provision about minimum compensation for public officials.

Who It Affects

• Manufacturers, distributors, prescribers, dispensers, sellers, or transfers of RU-486 or similar abortifacients in Alabama (they could face Class C felony penalties for violations).
• Pregnant individuals seeking a chemical abortion (their access to chemical abortion would be restricted or eliminated, though the bill protects them from criminal charges for the death of an unborn child due to abortifacient use).
• Local governments may have limited impact regarding funding triggers due to a constitutional carve-out that exempts this bill from the local-expenditure requirements related to amendments about local funds.

Key Provisions

• Section 3(a): It is unlawful to manufacture, distribute, prescribe, dispense, sell, or transfer RU-486, Mifepristone, Mifegyne, Mifeprex, or any substantially similar abortifacient drug in Alabama.
• Section 3(b): Violating this section is a Class C felony.
• Section 3(c): No woman shall be charged or held criminally liable for the death of her own unborn child by virtue of the use of an abortifacient drug.
• Section 3(d): The act does not prohibit contraceptives used before conception or before a pregnancy can be confirmed.
• Section 3(e): Repeals any law that regulates or recognizes chemical abortion that conflicts with this act.
• Section 4: The bill is exempt from the local-fund expenditure requirements under Amendment 621 due to its provision about minimum compensation for public officials.
• Section 5: The act becomes effective immediately after passage and governor’s approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Abortion