Many people have never heard of Senate Bill 6037 nor do they know what commercial surrogacy is, but this issue has become one of the most hotly debated bills so in Olympia this year.
While the bill is an overhaul of the States Uniform Parentage Act generally, as we wrote about previously, the most contentious part is the provision that would remove the state’s current prohibition on commercial surrogacy contracts. As a result, women would be allowed to rent their bodies for the purpose of giving birth.
Should the bill pass, custody disputes that arise out of surrogacy contracts would not be resolved based on the best interest of the child as is currently required but according to the terms of the contract.
Today, the bill passed out of the Senate Law and Justice Committee along party lines.
Several amendments were offered that would eliminate or limit the commercial surrogacy portion of the bill, but those amendments were all voted down.
Based on the voice vote, it appears the votes were along party lines with Democrats supporting its passage and Republicans opposed.
The bill will now move to the full Senate where they will have until February 14th to pass the bill to the House.
For more information about this bill, you can see six reasons why you should oppose the bill here as well as suggestions for what say to legislators here.
Washington State residents can call their legislators through the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 or email them by clicking here.
