What to know about Alabama’s fast-tracked legislation to protect in vitro fertilization clinics

Alabama lawmakers are moving fast to approve measures this week to protect in vitro fertilization clinics from lawsuits in response to an uproar sparked by last month’s state Supreme Court ruling that found frozen embryos have the rights of children under the state’s wrongful death law.

Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, is expected to sign one of the two bills into law.

Either of the two bills would give legal protection for fertility clinics, at least three of which paused IVF treatments after the court ruling to assess their new liability risks.

Here are things to know about the bills and the process of turning one of them into law.

WHAT’S IN THE LEGISLATION?

Both the state Senate and the House are advancing nearly identical legislation that would protect IVF providers and their employees from civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution over the destruction of or damage to an embryo.

Either measure, if signed into law, would take effect immediately and would apply retroactively to any past damage or destruction that is not already the subject of a lawsuit.

Lawmakers say IVF providers have told them the protections are enough to get them to resume services.

WHAT’S NOT ADDRESSED IN THE MEASURES?

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«READ MORE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> READ MORE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> As threat to IVF looms in Alabama, patients over 35 or with serious diseases worry for their futures </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Alabama lawmakers advance legislation to protect IVF providers, with final approval still