ATLANTA (Feb. 28, 2024) – Sen. Elena Parent (D–Atlanta) is filing two bills related to address access to reproductive healthcare in Georgia: Senate Bill 564 ensure Georgians have access to contraception and Senate Bill 565 to ensure that access to in vitro fertility treatment is not compromised by the definition or status of a human embryo created outside a human uterus.
The Right to Contraception Act aims to ensure comprehensive access to contraception for all Georgians, affirming the state’s commitment to reproductive health and autonomy. The legislation seeks to protect and preserve Georgians’ right to contraception, including condoms, the pill, and IUDs. Representatives Marvin Lim (D–Norcross) and Teri Anulewicz (D–Smyrna) filed a companion bill, HB 1424 in the Georgia House of Representatives.
The bill is similar to legislation passed by both chambers of the Virginia General Assembly. After Roe v. Wade was overturned, Americans have become increasingly concerned about access to contraception and family planning. Federally, the right to contraception is protected by the Griswold v. Connecticut decision from 1965, but its constitutional foundation has been questioned by several Supreme Court members.
With the recent Alabama Supreme Court’s IVF ruling that classifies frozen embryos as children and its direct impact on reproductive healthcare, Sen. Parent is also filing a bill to codify that a human egg or fertilized human embryo outside a human uterus is not considered a child or minor under state law for any purpose.
“I am filing these bills because Americans, regardless of political party affiliation, overwhelmingly support the right to contraception and access to fertility treatments,” said Sen. Parent, “The Right to Contraception Act was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in June 2023, but did not have enough support to pass. This has alarmed the majority of Americans who fear, rightly so, that they might lose access to the medically approved family planning tools they’ve relied on for decades.”
Sen. Parent is seeking bipartisan support for both of these bills.
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Sen. Elena Parent serves as Chair of the Senate Democratic Caucus. She represents the 42nd Senate District which includes portions of DeKalb County. She may be reached at 404.656.5109 or via email at elena.parent@senate.ga.gov