Alabama House committee advances bill banning human cloning

January 21, 2026 - MONTGOMERY – The Alabama House Judiciary Committee gave a favorable report to a bill that would make it a criminal offense to clone a human being in the state of Alabama.

House Bill 111 (HB111) is sponsored by by Rep. Phillip Rigsby (R-Huntsville).

"This is the anticloning bill that I brought last year," Rigsby explained.

Rigsby said that we have not yet successfully cloned a human being, but as quickly as science is progressing it is a possibility in the near future. This bill is proactive rather than reactive.

"No we have not successfully cloned a human being, but we have cloned some animals," Rigsby explained.

Rigsby said that this bill passed out of committee last year and passed the House, but stalled in the Senate.

Rep. Matt Simpson (R-Daphne) said, "This does not apply to invitro fertilization."

"This does not apply to agricultural cloning as well," Rigsby added.

HB111 would make human cloning a Class C felony in Alabama. This applies to anyone who performs or attempts to perform human cloning.

The bill uses a broad definition, covering several scientific techniques. Under HB111, "human cloning" includes:

A. Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) - Introducing genetic material from a human somatic cell into an egg whose nucleus has been removed to create a genetically identical organism.

B. Embryo splitting - artificially subdividing a human embryo after the two‑cell stage to create multiple organisms.

C. Creating chimeric or hybrid embryos - Introducing pluripotent stem cells into a human embryo or artificial embryo under conditions where the introduced cells could generate most or all tissues of a fully developed organism.

D. Genetically Modifying Human Skin Cells Into Gametes - Turning human skin cells into viable sperm or eggs with matching genetic material to create an embryo.

HB111 explicitly states that the following are not considered cloning unless done with the intent to produce a genetically identical human being:

- In vitro fertilization (IVF)

- Fertility‑enhancing drugs

- Assisted reproductive technologies used to help a woman become or remain pregnant

This carve‑out is important given Alabama's ongoing debates around IVF and embryo status.

There are provisions in the bill that are designed to ensure that scientific research and reproductive treatments can continue as long as they do not involve cloning

The bill received a favorable report and can now be considered by the full House of Representatives.

Wednesday is Day 4 of the 2026 Alabama regular legislative session.

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