SB320 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

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

SB320 creates the Every Mother Matters Act to require a free resource access offer before abortion and to establish a statewide Pregnancy Launch Program that helps pregnant people access services before and after birth.

What This Bill Does

It requires a physician to verify that a woman seeking an abortion has received a free resource access assistance offer, delivered through a toll-free number staffed by professionals who explain available services and help connect to resources. It creates the Pregnancy Launch Program to provide direct services, care plan coordination, and referrals to pregnancy- and parenting-related resources, available statewide and deliverable by phone or other remote means. It aims to ensure every woman seeking an abortion learns about these services before the abortion and adds follow-up services after birth, including referrals to community resources and public assistance programs. It also establishes enforcement mechanisms, including audits, penalties, and licensing actions, and restricts contracted organizations from promoting abortion and from employing or directing individuals with recent abortion experience; it emphasizes confidentiality and training on issues like human trafficking.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women in Alabama who seek abortions will be required to receive a resource access offer and have verification recorded before the abortion can be performed.
• Organizations and individuals contracted to provide Pregnancy Launch Program services (and their staff) will deliver the program, maintain participant confidentiality, report data, and comply with anti-abortion-promotion rules and oversight.

Key Provisions

• Physician must verify, before performing an abortion, that the woman has received a resource access assistance offer and record this verification in the medical record.
• The resource access assistance offer must inform the woman about free Healthy Pregnancy Program services and free care plan coordination services, and provide education about other public/private resources; it is funded by the state at no cost to the woman.
• The Department must establish the Pregnancy Launch Program by contracting with organizations to provide direct services, care coordination, and referrals statewide for pregnant women, biological/adoptive parents of young children, and pregnant minors; services may be delivered in person or remotely.
• Program components include licensed nurses and care coordinators delivering medical information, obstetric and pediatric care referrals, mental health services, housing, employment, benefits assistance, and abuse/trafficking support.
• Eligibility includes residents who are biological parents of unborn children or parents of children under two, or a pregnant woman seeking an abortion; participants may continue receiving some services for six months after a pregnancy ends if applicable.
• There are audits and penalties for noncompliance: 10% of abortion records are audited annually; if 5% or more are noncompliant, all records for that provider are audited; civil penalties of $5,000 per violation; possible license or facility license revocation for providers with ongoing noncompliance; and public posting of audit results with identifiable information protected.
• Contracts and program operation require strong safeguards: no promotion or referral for abortion by the program; confidential handling of participant data; and rules governing who can serve as care agents or program staff.
• Some sections become operative 20 months after the act’s effective date, with other related requirements due within set timelines (e.g., contractual steps and implementation milestones).

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