HB401 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Charlotte Meadows

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Abortion, Every Mother Matters Act, Pregnancy Launch Program created, resource access assistance offers required to be made before performance of an abortion

Summary

HB401 creates the Every Mother Matters Act to require a free resource access offer before abortion, and to establish a statewide Pregnancy Launch Program that connects pregnant women and parents with pregnancy- and parenting-related services and follow-up support.

What This Bill Does

It requires a physician to confirm that a woman seeking an abortion has received a free resource access assistance offer, delivered through a toll-free phone line staffed by support professionals. It establishes the Pregnancy Launch Program to help pregnant women and parents navigate existing private and public resources, with care plan coordination and healthy pregnancy services available statewide (in person or remotely). It sets up contracts with agencies to provide these services, including follow-up referrals after birth, and outlines verification, reporting, audits, and penalties to ensure compliance. The act also defines reporting requirements, confidentiality protections, and makes clear that it does not create a right to abortion.

Who It Affects

• Women seeking an abortion in Alabama: must receive and verify the free resource access assistance offer before the abortion.
• Pregnant women, biological or adoptive parents of young children, and pregnant minors: eligible to participate in the Pregnancy Launch Program to obtain services and care coordination.
• Abortion providers and their staff: impacted by verification requirements, prohibitions on promoting abortion, and staffing/licensing restrictions.
• Care agents and agencies delivering program services: responsible for offering services, coordinating care, maintaining confidentiality, and complying with reporting and auditing requirements.
• Rural residents and all Alabama residents: program services are statewide and accessible in rural areas, including telephonic or remote delivery.
• State and Department of Public Health: responsible for contracting, operating the toll-free line, enforcing compliance, auditing, and reporting.

Key Provisions

• HB401 creates the Every Mother Matters Act, defines key terms (resource access offer, Pregnancy Launch Program, care agent, department).
• Physician verification: before an abortion, the woman must have received a resource access assistance offer; verification is recorded in the medical record.
• Pregnancy Launch Program: statewide program delivering healthy pregnancy services and care plan coordination, available in person or remotely, to biological or adoptive parents of young children and to pregnant women.
• Program components: licensed professionals provide pregnancy services and care plan coordination, plus referrals to local, state, and federal resources, with additional support for postpartum care and related needs.
• Contracting and delivery: the Department must contract with agencies to provide resource access offers, care coordination, and healthy pregnancy services, and operate a toll-free number to connect women to these services.
• Provider and staff restrictions: agencies cannot be abortion providers or affiliates, cannot employ those who have performed an abortion in the last two years, and must avoid conflicts via board/leadership restrictions.
• Oversight and penalties: annual audits of abortion records, civil penalties for noncompliance, potential license revocation for high noncompliance, and required monthly reporting by agencies.
• Confidentiality and records: limits on open records and allows certain disclosures for enforcement, statistics, and treatment, while protecting personally identifying information.
• Effective date and phased implementation: many provisions become operative 18 months after the act’s effective date, with some initial contracting timelines beginning within nine months.

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