A new bill in Ohio and Mississippi could fine men for ejaculating without the intent to conceive a child. Called “The Contraception Begins at Erection Act,” the bill would make it illegal to release sperm unless it is meant for pregnancy. If passed, it could take effect in July 2025.
The bill does allow some exceptions. Sperm donation and cases where contraception is used would not be penalized. However, the rules differ between the two states. In Mississippi, self-gratification would be illegal under this law, while in Ohio, it would not be included in the ban.
While the bill does not include jail time, it does propose large fines. A first offense would result in a $1,000 fine. A second violation would increase to $5,000, and a third offense would carry a $10,000 penalty. These fines would apply in both states if the bill becomes law.
The bill was introduced in Mississippi by lawmaker Bradford Blackmon, but it is not expected to pass. Blackmon explained that most reproductive laws focus on women, even though men are equally involved in conception. “People may call this absurd, but that doesn’t bother me,” Blackmon said, according to NBC News.
In Ohio, Representatives Anita Somani and Tristan Rader introduced a similar bill. Somani, an OBGYN for 30 years, said the bill is a response to laws that regulate women’s reproductive rights. She questioned why penalties only target one party in an unplanned pregnancy, saying that if one person is held accountable, the other should be as well. She also clarified that the bill is not meant to be enforced but to start a conversation about the issue.
Reproductive rights have been a major topic of debate since the 2022 Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, which led to abortion bans in ten states. Some critics, like Ohio Representative Austin Beigel, strongly oppose the bill. “This is a joke,” Beigel said. “It ignores basic biology.” Even though the bill is unlikely to pass, it has sparked debate nationwide.