Ohio and Mississippi bill aims to make ejaculating without intent to conceive a felony — costing over $10K

Legislators in Ohio and Mississippi are proposing fines of up to $10,000 for men caught ejaculating without the intent to conceive, a bill meant to spark debate over reproductive rights.

The “Conception Begins at Erection Act,” introduced by Ohio State Representatives Anita Somani and Tristan Rader, aims to expose the hypocrisy of laws that regulate women’s bodies while leaving men’s reproductive choices unchecked.

“You don’t get pregnant on your own,” said Rep. Somani (D-Dublin). “If you’re going to penalize someone for an unwanted pregnancy, why not penalize the person who is also responsible for the pregnancy?”

The bill, which has not been formally introduced, proposes increasing fines for repeat “offenders,” starting at $1,008 for a first offense and rising to $10,084 for a third. Exemptions would apply to sperm donations, LGBTQ+ relationships, and sex with birth control.

While meant as a political statement, the proposal highlights deep divisions in U.S. reproductive rights. It comes as conservative lawmakers push for stricter abortion laws and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas signals interest in revisiting contraception rights.

The debate has intensified since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, with states like Ohio passing constitutional protections for abortion—moves some Republican lawmakers hope to challenge.

“If you find this bill absurd, then maybe you should find any bill attempting to restrict reproductive freedoms absurd as well,” said Rep. Rader.