MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A newly proposed bill in Alabama could make abortion punishable as murder, a move that has shocked even seasoned observers of the state’s conservative politics. House Bill 454, introduced by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, seeks to redefine “person” under Alabama law to include unborn children from the moment of fertilization. This change would allow pregnant individuals who terminate pregnancies to face criminal charges, including murder or assault.
The bill marks a dramatic escalation in Alabama’s already stringent abortion laws. The 2019 Human Life Protection Act banned nearly all abortions but explicitly exempted women seeking the procedure from prosecution. HB 454 would remove those protections, making Alabama one of the first states to directly target individuals for seeking abortions.
Critics argue the measure is overreaching and could worsen Alabama’s maternal health crisis, already among the worst in the nation. The state has the third-highest maternal and infant mortality rate, and reproductive rights advocates warn that criminalizing abortion could lead to preventable deaths and injuries.
The bill is currently pending review in the House Judiciary Committee, where it faces scrutiny from legal experts and activists alike. Its introduction comes at a time when neighboring states have seen an influx of Alabamians seeking abortion care due to the state’s near-total ban on the procedure.
HB 454 has sparked fierce debate across Alabama counties, from Jefferson to rural Autauga, where residents express both support for its alignment with anti-abortion values and concern over its implications for personal freedoms. Few could have imagined such measures gaining traction even five years ago, underscoring a seismic shift in Alabama’s political landscape following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
As lawmakers deliberate, advocacy groups like Yellowhammer Fund are bracing for potential fallout while continuing their work to assist individuals traveling out of state for reproductive care. Meanwhile, opponents vow to fight what they see as an unprecedented attack on women’s autonomy.