HB122: HB122 Persons and their rights; life from the moment of conception is accorded same rights and protections guaranteed to all persons; provide

Georgia law currently does not have a specific code section stating when legal personhood or protection begins. This bill would add a new section to Chapter 2 of Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated declaring that life is valued and protected starting at conception, and that from that moment a life gets the same rights and protections given to any other person under the U.S. Constitution, the Georgia Constitution, and Georgia law. The bill defines terms including conception, abortion, abortifacient, and contraception. It specifically states that this new section should not be read as creating or recognizing a right to abortion, and also should not be read as banning any form of contraception. The bill repeals any conflicting Georgia laws but does not list an effective date beyond the standard process for a passed bill.

• Adds a new Code section (O.C.G.A. 1-2-12) declaring that life is protected from the moment of conception and given the same legal rights as any person.
• Defines 'conception' as the combining of sperm and egg resulting in a fertilized ovum or zygote, setting the legal starting point referenced in the bill.
• Defines 'abortion' and 'abortifacient' for purposes of this section, tying them to actions that end a pregnancy after conception.
• Defines 'contraception' as methods that prevent pregnancy before conception, explicitly excluding abortifacients from that definition.
• States that the new section does not create a right to abortion and does not prohibit the use of contraception.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new section.

The bill's language most directly touches how Georgia courts and agencies would interpret personhood and rights questions involving pregnancy, potentially affecting pregnant women, medical providers who perform abortions or prescribe abortifacients, and anyone involved in legal disputes over the legal status of a fetus or embryo.

By declaring that legal personhood and rights attach at conception, this bill could shape how Georgia courts interpret other laws touching pregnancy, medical care, and criminal or civil liability involving a fetus, even though the text says it does not itself ban abortion or contraception.

• Section 1 adds new Code Section 1-2-12 to Chapter 2 of Title 1, defining 'abortifacient,' 'abortion,' 'conception,' and 'contraception' for use in the new section.
• Subsection (b) states that life is valued and protected from conception and given the same rights and protections as any person under federal and state constitutions and Georgia law.
• Subsection (c) clarifies that the section does not create or recognize a right to abortion and does not prohibit any method of contraception.
• Section 2 repeals all Georgia laws or parts of laws that conflict with this Act.

1. 2025-01-29House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-01-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-01-27House Hopper (House)

• Charlice Byrd (R, HD-020)Primary sponsor
• Mitchell Horner (R, HD-003)
• Emory Dunahoo (R, HD-031)
• David Clark (R, HD-100)
• Noelle Kahaian (R, HD-081)
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)

• abortion law
• reproductive rights
• fetal personhood
• Georgia Code amendments