The Alabama legislation is among dozens of bills seeking to either expand or restrict legal abortion in states across the country, as changes on the Supreme Court have led to speculation that Roe v. Wade may be overturned.
In January, New York passed an expansive law declaring abortion to be a "fundamental human right," broadening the legality of late-term abortions, and allowing non-physicians to perform abortions, as well as removing protections for babies born alive after a botched abortion.
A similar bill in Virginia failed in February after video circulated online of the bill's proponents suggesting that it would allow abortion even during labor and that babies who survived an abortion attempt could be left to die of exposure.
Other states, including Mississippi, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia, have passed or are considering bills that would ban abortion once the unborn baby's heartbeat can be detected, usually around six weeks into pregnancy.
Several states have also passed "trigger bills" that would ban abortion if Roe v. Wade were to be overturned by the Supreme Court, placing the question of legal abortion back with the states.
Randall Marshall, executive director of Alabama's American Civil Liberties Union, told WHNT 19 that the new bill would not hold up in court and would cost taxpayers a significant amount of money in legal fees.
Collins responded to this criticism by saying, "We think this is the bill that could overturn, what I consider to be a bad law, then it's well worth spending the money."
In addition to Amendment 2 last fall, Alabama has made several attempts to pass pro-life legislation in recent years.
Last August, a federal appeals court ruled against a state law that would have banned a second-trimester abortion procedure, known as "dialation and evacuation."
The previous year, a federal judge struck down an Alabama law requiring more scrutiny for minors who seek an abortion without parental consent.
The state is still considered to be one of the most restrictive in terms of abortion law. Alabama requires that women be given counseling and an ultrasound prior to having an abortion, though it is optional for the woman to view the ultrasound image. It also has restrictions on the health insurance coverage of elective abortions that are not performed for reasons of life endangerment, rape or incest.
(Story continues below)
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Perry West is a staff writer for Catholic News Agency. He graduated from Franciscan University with his bachelor's in English. Prior to his job at CNA, he worked in construction staffing and coffee.