State Rep. John Roth, R-Interlochen, released the following statement Monday after House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland, sent a letter to House Speaker Joe Tate, D-Detroit, calling for action on several Republican bills expected to garner bipartisan support. Hall’s letter includes a plan to criminalize fertility fraud, sponsored by Roth, that was supposed to be considered in October as part of a larger deal.

“Leader Hall clearly outlined non-partisan issues that both sides should be able to get behind,” Roth said. “The fact that only two votes were taken in January is completely unacceptable to the people we represent. House Republicans are ready to vote yes, but Speaker Tate needs to end the blockade and get his House back in order.”

House Bills 4178-4182 would protect women and families by criminalizing fertility fraud — deceit about sperm donors and other details related to assisted reproduction. The plan, spearheaded by Roth, creates two new felonies related to false representation and swapping out embryos. The legislation also makes changes related to criminal sentencing, stripping a doctors’ license, civil liability, and the statute of limitations.

“Women in Michigan have been betrayed by doctors they trusted to guide them through fertility treatment process,” Roth said. “Doctors can falsely represent or swap embryos, and our archaic state law still doesn’t consider these heinous acts a crime. I’m confident our bipartisan plan to criminalize these abhorrent practices would see broad support from both sides of the aisle.”

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