After a bevy of criticisms were levied against House Health Committee chairman State Rep. Paul Lee (R-Dothan) for allegedly thwarting anti-abortion legislation, State Rep. Ernie Yarbrough (R-Trinity), the bill's sponsor, is calling on advocates to tone down the attacks.
The main bill in question, House Bill 518 (HB518), also known as the Prenatal Equal Protection Act, is aimed at providing "equal protection" under the law for unborn children who are killed by abortion. HB518 would permit criminal prosecution for abortions in the state with several exceptions. Under the bill, prosecutions where the victim is an unborn child "must be treated the same as if the unborn child were born alive."
The bill was assigned to Lee's committee over a month ago. However, it was never placed on the committee calendar for a vote or a public hearing.
In response, some of the groups have called on supporters to contact Lee and ask that the bill get a public hearing. Others have likewise accused Lee of intentionally killing the legislation.
In a release Wednesday, Yarbrough accused some of the groups of distributing "patently false" and "destructive" information, which included accusing Lee of murder.
"During this 2025 session, I filed legislation that I believe very strongly in and campaigned on relating to medical freedom and pro-life issues," Yarbrough said. "These are issues that many Alabamians believe strongly in, and I share that conviction. In the process of endeavoring to work the legislative process, the bills were assigned to the Health Committee, chaired by Rep. Paul Lee. Chairman Lee reached out to me to offer an amendment that would make IVF a standalone issue and separate from my bill."
"I chose not to move forward at this time because of concerns around IVF legislation that we passed last session and how that affected the personhood discussion. There have subsequently been groups that have sent out emails to legislators or spread information accusing Chairman Lee of murder. This is patently false as well as destructive to a good cause and his sincere efforts regarding this legislation."
Leadership of the state-based group, End Abortion Alabama, claims it has not accused Lee of murder in any of its printed materials. Yarbrough recently joined other advocates, including End Abortion Alabama, saying he would re-file the bill early for next session to get momentum.
While it's unclear which groups accused Lee of murder, Yarbrough concluded his statement by thanking Lee for his work, painting a hopeful picture of his bill's future during the next session.
"While I do believe we have work to do in Alabama regarding pro-life issues around our IVF laws, IVF issues and technicalities are best addressed in legislation specific to that issue," Yarbrough concluded. "I would like to publicly thank Chairman Lee for his willingness to engage in this conversation as well as future legislation regarding prenatal personhood and pro-life IVF and publicly condemn accusations of murder as unfair, inaccurate, and unhelpful to a good cause."
"There is a proper and professional way for elected officials and citizens to engage in the legislative process. I ask that you cease and desist these attacks on Rep. Lee."
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