Alabama Legislative Session Comes to a Close; Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates Celebrate Successful Fight Against Bad Bills

MONTGOMERY, AL  – Last week, the 2024 legislative session in Alabama concluded, marking a pivotal moment for reproductive rights and healthcare access in the state. Planned Parenthood Southeast Advocates (PPSEA) proudly stood at the forefront of advocacy efforts to protect crucial rights and services for all Alabamians.

Throughout the session, PPSEA spearheaded initiatives to oppose several bills that posed significant threats to reproductive freedom and healthcare access. Alongside coalition partners, PPSEA effectively combated the passage of bills that could jeopardize the health and autonomy of individuals across the state. PPSEA also strongly advocated for the ‘pink tax’ repeal, which would have lifted the sales tax on menstrual hygiene products, maternity clothing, diapers, infant formula, and more. Although the measure did not pass this year, the momentum will carry over into the next session to fight for this assistant for constituents in Alabama.

“This was an exhausting, but extremely important, legislative session,” said Stephen Stetson, State Director of PPSEA’s Alabama work. “Even the highly-partisan supermajority in both chambers of the legislature is starting to get the message from constituents that these culture war issues are unpopular distractions from the real issues that are confronting us here in Alabama. We were pleased to see some – but not all – of these mean-spirited bills fail, even though we expect extremists to bring them back again in the 2025 session. Each year, we will continuously fight for sexual and reproductive healthcare in our state.”

The Alabama state session was influenced by the national news of the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that stored embryos can be considered minor children, halting reproductive procedures for many women across the state. The session continued with PPSEA fighting off bad bills in the final stretch. These legislative wins were vital in ensuring reproductive healthcare and sexual education remains available for patients, minors, members of the LGBTQ community, and more.

Among the bills defeated due to the collective efforts of PPSEA and its allies are:

• HB 195 - A proposed sex education bill advocating for a modernized version of "abstinence-only" education. Through talking points and testimonies, PPSEA played a pivotal role in defeating this bill and advocated for comprehensive, evidence-based sexual education.
• HB 356 by Rep. Jamie Kiel - This bill sought to provide tax credits to individuals and businesses donating to crisis pregnancy centers. Advocacy efforts led to its defeat, safeguarding against potential financial support for organizations known to dissuade pregnant individuals from getting an abortion by providing misleading information.
• HB 378 by Rep. Mark Gidley - Aimed to criminalize individuals assisting minors seeking abortion care outside Alabama. PPSEA's advocacy helped block this legislation, preserving the rights of young people to seek safe and legal abortion care outside the state.
• HB 246 by Rep. Ben Harrison - Aimed to restrict healthcare access for minors by establishing a "medical age of majority." Advocacy efforts ensured that the state government would not interfere in the relationships between minors and their doctors.
• HB 111 - Known as the "What is a Woman?" Act, this anti-trans legislation faced strong opposition from PPSEA and coalition partners. The bill's defeat signifies a victory for inclusivity, reaffirming Alabama's commitment to respecting the rights of all its residents.

PPSEA appreciates its dedicated supporters, coalition partners, and lawmakers who stood alongside us in defense of reproductive rights and healthcare access. While celebrating these victories, PPSEA remains committed to advocating for policies that promote equity, justice, and autonomy for all.

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As the organizing, advocacy, and electoral arm of Planned Parenthood Southeast, PPSEA engages in a range of electoral activities, including voter education and mobilization. We firmly believe that elected officials should champion policies and programs that empower women and their families to make informed choices regarding the prevention of unintended pregnancies and the cultivation of healthy families. PPSEA is dedicated to educating and mobilizing the public while supporting the election of lawmakers who prioritize these critical issues.