HB378 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mark GidleyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Abortion, harboring or transporting of minor girl in order to obtain abortion prohibited in certain circumstances, criminal penalties and affirmative defense provided, certain civil remedies authorized

Summary

HB378 would make it a Class A misdemeanor to harbor or transport a minor girl to obtain an abortion with the intent to conceal it from her parents, with limited exceptions and civil remedies for parents.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates the STOP Act to prohibit harboring or transporting a minor girl inside Alabama to obtain an abortion or abortion-inducing drug when done to conceal it from the minor's parents or guardians. Violators would face a Class A misdemeanor; the measure does not apply in medical emergencies or when parental consent has been waived by a court; the minor herself would not be criminally liable. There is an affirmative defense if the minor's parent or guardian consents to the harboring or transporting, and parents may sue civilly against anyone who harbor or transport or aid in obtaining an abortion for the minor. The bill defines key terms, states that it does not create a right to abortion, and sets an effective date of October 1, 2024, with a local-funding exception related to new crime creation.

Who It Affects

• Minor girls under 18: they are not criminals under this bill; penalties target adults who harbor or transport minors to obtain an abortion, and parental involvement remains a factor in decisions about abortion.
• Adults or other people who harbor, transport, or aid/abet a minor girl to obtain an abortion or abortion-inducing drugs: could be charged with a Class A misdemeanor and may face civil damages or other remedies, though a parent/guardian can consent to harboring for an affirmative defense.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Safeguarding Teens from Out-of-State Abortion Procedures (STOP) Act to prohibit harboring or transporting a minor girl to obtain an abortion or abortion-inducing drug without the knowledge of the parents.
• Makes harboring or transporting a minor for this purpose a Class A misdemeanor, with exceptions for medical emergencies or a court waiver of consent.
• Provides an affirmative defense if the minor's parent or guardian consents to the harboring or transporting.
• Allows parents to sue civilly for actual and punitive damages, injunctive relief, and attorney fees against anyone who procures, obtains, or aids in obtaining an abortion for the minor.
• Defines key terms (abortion, abortion-inducing drug, assistance, harboring, transport, minor girl) and states that the bill does not create a right to abortion.
• Specifies the act takes effect October 1, 2024, and that it is exempt from certain local-funding requirements because it creates a new crime or amends an existing one.

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

Subjects

Health