HB 122: 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 contain a general statement in Title 1 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated defining when personhood or legal protection begins. House Bill 122 would add a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 1-2-12, declaring that life is valued and protected starting at conception and that from that moment it receives the same rights and protections the Constitution and Georgia law guarantee to all persons. The bill defines several terms, including conception (combining sperm and ovum into a fertilized zygote), abortion, abortifacient, and contraception, and it specifically excludes abortifacients from the definition of contraception. It also includes a clause stating the section should not be read to create a right to abortion or to ban any form of contraception. The bill repeals any conflicting laws but does not set an explicit effective date beyond the standard process for a signed act.

• Adds a new Code section, O.C.G.A. § 1-2-12, stating 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 ovum resulting in a fertilized ovum or zygote.
• Defines 'abortion' and 'abortifacient' separately from 'contraception,' and excludes abortifacients from the contraception definition.
• States the section does not create or recognize a right to abortion, nor does it prohibit the use of contraception.
• Repeals any existing Georgia laws that conflict with this new declaration.

The bill's language touches Georgians broadly by addressing how state law defines the start of legally protected life. It could affect pregnant women, medical providers who perform abortions or prescribe contraception or abortifacients, and courts or agencies that interpret Georgia's rights and protections laws.

By declaring that legal personhood and rights begin at conception, this bill could influence how Georgia courts, prosecutors, and agencies interpret other laws involving pregnancy, reproductive health, and personhood, even though the text itself says it does not create an abortion right or ban contraception.

• Section 1 adds new Code section 1-2-12 to Chapter 2 of Title 1, covering persons and their rights.
• Subsection (a) defines 'abortifacient,' 'abortion,' 'conception,' and 'contraception,' distinguishing abortifacients from contraception.
• Subsection (b) declares that life is valued and protected from conception and receives the same constitutional and legal rights as any person.
• Subsection (c) clarifies the section does not create a right to abortion or prohibit use of contraception.
• Section 2 repeals all laws and parts of laws that conflict with the 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
• personhood
• reproductive rights
• contraception
• Georgia Code amendments