by Dave Williams | Capitol Beat News Service
ATLANTA – Legislation guaranteeing Georgia women struggling to become pregnant the legal right to in vitro fertilization (IVF) gained final passage in the General Assembly Friday.
The state House of Representatives voted unanimously to agree to minor changes Georgia senators had made to House Bill 428 when they passed it on Thursday, sending the measure to Gov. Brian Kemp’s desk for his signature.
The bill was inspired by an Alabama Supreme Court decision last year that declared frozen embryos created through IVF should be treated as children. The ruling essentially banned the procedure in that state until Alabama lawmakers passed a bill protecting IVF and GOP Gov. Kay Ivey quickly signed it.
Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns made the IVF bill one of his top priorities for the 2025 General Assembly session.
The bill was introduced on the speaker’s behalf by Rep. Lehman Franklin, R-Statesboro, whose wife, June, is expecting a child in June. The couple sought IVF treatment after years of unsuccessful efforts to grow their family.
“Congratulations to the Franklins and this House,” Burns, R-Newington, said from the House rostrum Friday after the bill passed.
The Senate passed the IVF bill with only one “no” vote.
