SB226 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to consent to medical treatment; to amend Sections 22-8-4 and 22-8-6, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide that a minor who is married or divorced may consent to certain medical treatment; and to provide that a pregnant minor may not consent to certain pregnancy-related treatment.

Summary

SB226 would let certain minors consent to their own medical care (including those who are married or divorced) while prohibiting a pregnant minor from consenting to treatment that would treat the pregnancy.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends two sections of Alabama law (22-8-4 and 22-8-6) to clarify who may consent to medical services for a minor. It allows minors who are 14 or older, who have graduated from high school, or who are married or divorced, to give effective consent to legally authorized medical, dental, health, or mental health services for themselves, without needing another person's consent. However, a minor who is pregnant may not consent to medical treatment to treat the pregnancy. Pregnant minors would still be able to consent to other medical services or to determine pregnancy status under the broader consent rules. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Minors who are 14 years old or older, or who have graduated from high school, including those who are married or divorced, who would be able to consent to their own medical services.
• Minors who are married or who have been married and are divorced, who gain explicit authority to consent to their own medical treatment.
• Pregnant minors, who lose the ability to consent to medical treatment that would treat the pregnancy (e.g., abortion), but may still consent to other medical services and to determine pregnancy presence.

Key Provisions

• Amends §22-8-4 to allow minors who are 14+, or HS graduates, or who are married/divorced, to give effective consent to legally authorized medical, dental, health, or mental health services for themselves, with no other person’s consent needed.
• Amends §22-8-6 to allow minors to consent to determining the presence of pregnancy and to certain related medical services, but explicitly states that a pregnant minor may not consent to medical treatment to treat the pregnancy.
• Maintains that no other person’s consent is deemed necessary for these minor-consent situations.
• Defines the act’s effective date as the first day of the third month after its passage and governor approval.

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