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Written by: E. George
Published March 31, 2025 @ 2:40 PM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – In a significant move for families struggling with infertility, the Georgia Senate has approved a bill that would protect access to in vitro fertilization (IVF) under state law. The legislation, which passed with overwhelming support, is a response to concerns raised by a similar ruling in Alabama that restricted IVF procedures, ultimately leading to the introduction of legal safeguards in Georgia.
The bill, known as House Bill 428, defines IVF and ensures that the procedure remains accessible to residents. This development follows a decision by the Alabama Supreme Court last year, which determined that frozen embryos created through IVF should be treated as children.
The ruling effectively banned the procedure in Alabama until the state legislature passed a law to protect it. Motivated by this situation, Georgia lawmakers sought to prevent any similar restrictions from emerging in their own state.
Sponsored by State Representative Lehman Franklin, a Republican from Statesboro, HB 428 has garnered significant bipartisan support. Franklin, who personally benefited from IVF after struggling with infertility for years, emphasized the importance of securing legal protections for families like his own. He and his wife, Lorie, are expecting a baby in May, conceived through IVF.
The bill passed the Georgia Senate by a vote of 53-1 and now returns to the state House for final approval, as the Senate introduced minor amendments. House Speaker Jon Burns, a Republican from Newington, has strongly advocated for the measure, underscoring its necessity to ensure the continued availability of IVF procedures in Georgia.
Senator Ben Watson, a Republican from Savannah and a physician, also highlighted the significance of the bill, which provides a clear definition of IVF within the state’s legal framework.
The bill’s passage has been met with broad support across party lines, with Georgia Democrats also backing the measure. Senator Josh McLaurin, a Democrat from Sandy Springs, expressed his satisfaction with the bill’s amendments, noting that it would protect people in similar situations to his own.
McLaurin, who was conceived through donor-assisted reproduction, emphasized the need for legislative protections for families utilizing IVF and other reproductive technologies.
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