HB644 • 2026

Crimes and offenses; crime of female genital mutilation established, penalties provided

Crime Healthcare Parental Rights

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Chestnut
Last action: 2026-04-01
Official status: Read Second Time in House of Origin
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text defines 'medically necessary' but does not list specific examples, leaving the exact scope open to interpretation by courts or medical professionals.

HB644: Making Female Genital Mutilation a Crime

This bill creates a new crime for performing female genital mutilation on females under age 19 and sets penalties, with an exception only when medically necessary.

What This Bill Does

Defines female genital mutilation as removing or harming the external genitals of a female under 19 years old for nonmedical reasons.
Makes it a Class B felony to perform this act on anyone under age 19.
Criminalizes parents, guardians, or those with custody who allow, authorize, or direct another person to commit this act.
Criminalizes taking a female under 19 out of the state for the purpose of having this procedure done.
States that females under 19 cannot legally agree to the procedure.
Removes religion, custom, ritual, and consent as legal defenses for committing the act.
Allows licensed physicians to perform procedures only when medically necessary to preserve physical health.

Who It Names or Affects

Females under the age of 19
Parents or legal guardians of females under 19
Individuals who might perform nonmedical genital cutting
Licensed physicians performing medically necessary procedures

Terms To Know

Female Genital Mutilation: The removal or harming of external female genitals for reasons other than medical health.
Class B Felony: A serious crime that carries heavy penalties under state law.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not change existing laws about how doctors are held liable for medical mistakes.
It is unclear exactly which specific procedures count as 'medically necessary' without further court or professional guidance.
The law will become effective on June 1, 2026.

Bill History

2026-04-01 House
Read for the Second Time and placed on the Calendar
2026-04-01 House
Reported Out of Committee House of Origin
2026-03-19 House
Pending Committee Action in House of Origin
2026-03-19 House
Read for the first time and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary

Official Summary Text

Crimes and offenses; crime of female genital mutilation established, penalties provided

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

HB644 INTRODUCED
Page 0
HB644
L5R4CYA-1
By Representatives Chestnut, Hollis, Drummond, Warren,
Lawrence, Clarke, Hulsey, Hall, Brown, Pringle
RFD: Judiciary
First Read: 19-Mar-26
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L5R4CYA-1 03/18/2026 GED (L)ma 2026-1395
Page 1
First Read: 19-Mar-26
SYNOPSIS:
Female genital mutilation is the practice of
partially or totally removing the external genitalia of
a girl or young woman for nonmedical reasons and has
been criminalized in the United States federally and in
multiple states.
This bill would establish the crime of female
genital mutilation, provide criminal penalties, and
provide an exception only under limited circumstances
when medically necessary.
A BILL
TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
Relating to crimes and offenses; to establish the crime
of female genital mutilation; and to provide criminal
penalties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
Section 1. (a) For the purposes of this section, the
term "female genital mutilation" means to remove, cut,
circumcise, excise, mutilate, infibulate, or reinfibulate, in
whole or in part, the labia majora, labia minora, or clitoris
of a female under 19 years of age. The term includes a
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HB644 INTRODUCED
Page 2
of a female under 19 years of age. The term includes a
clitoridectomy. The term also includes any other harmful
procedure to the female genitalia for nonmedical purposes,
including incising, piercing, scraping, nicking, cauterizing,
burning, and scarring.
(b) An individual is guilty of a Class B felony if he
or she does any of the following:
(1) Commits female genital mutilation on a female under
19 years of age.
(2) Is a parent, legal guardian, or has immediate
custody or control of a female under 19 years of age and
knowingly allows, authorizes, or directs another individual to
commit female genital mutilation on the female.
(3) Knowingly removes or causes or permits the removal
of a female under 19 years of age from this state for the
purpose of committing or allowing, authorizing, or directing
another individual to commit female genital mutilation.
(c) An individual under 19 years of age is incapable of
consenting to female genital mutilation.
(d) It is not a defense to subsection (b) that the
conduct is required as a matter of religion, custom, ritual,
or standard practice, or that the female on whom the conduct
is performed, or the parent or legal guardian of the female,
consented to the act.
(e) This section does not apply to procedures performed
by or under the direction of a licensed physician when
determined to be medically necessary to preserve the physical
health of the female.
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
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HB644 INTRODUCED
Page 3
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to
establish a standard of care for hospitals or physicians or
otherwise modify, amend, or supersede any provision of the
Alabama Medical Liability Act of 1987 or the Alabama Medical
Liability Act of 1996, or any amendment or judicial
interpretation of either act.
Section 2. This act shall become effective June 1,
2026.
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