HB872: HB872 Health; right to contraception for individuals; provide

Currently, Georgia Code Section 31-1-20 is officially reserved, meaning it holds no active text. This bill would fill that section with new language addressing contraception rights. It defines 'conception' as the process of a male sperm combining with a female egg to form a fertilized egg, and defines 'contraception' as any method that prevents pregnancy from developing before that point. With those definitions in place, the bill states that females have the right to use any means of contraception. The bill also repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new provision. The bill does not list an effective date beyond the standard process for bills signed into law.

• Fills in Georgia Code Section 31-1-20, previously an empty placeholder, with new language on contraception rights.
• Defines 'conception' in Georgia law as the combination of sperm and egg resulting in a fertilized egg or zygote.
• Defines 'contraception' as any method that stops a pregnancy from developing before conception occurs.
• States that females have the right to use any means of contraception.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws or parts of laws that conflict with this new provision.

The bill's text most directly affects women and girls in Georgia who use or seek access to contraception, as well as any existing state laws or regulations that might restrict contraception access, which would be repealed if they conflict with this provision.

By writing a right to contraception directly into Georgia's health code, the bill would create a specific legal basis for access to contraceptive methods and would override any current state laws that conflict with that right, though the text does not spell out enforcement mechanisms.

• Section 1 amends Chapter 1 of Title 31 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated by revising Code Section 31-1-20, which was previously reserved (blank).
• Subsection (a) defines 'conception' as the combining of male sperm and female ovum resulting in a fertilized ovum or zygote.
• Subsection (a) also defines 'contraception' as a method of inhibiting the development of a pregnancy at any stage before conception.
• Subsection (b) states that females have the right to the use of any means of contraception.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the new provision.

1. 2025-03-31House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-03-28House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-03-27House Hopper (House)

• Sharon Cooper (R, HD-045)Primary sponsor
• Deborah Silcox (R, HD-053)
• Beth Camp (R, HD-135)
• Bethany Ballard (R, HD-147)
• Jan Jones (R, HD-047)
• Darlene Taylor (R, HD-173)

• contraception
• reproductive health
• women's health
• Georgia health code