Texas Scorecard by Mary Berg July 9, 2026
The committee focused on foreign influence in the surrogacy industry and health risks to mothers.Texas senators examined the question of whether commercial surrogacy has turned into a pipeline for foreign exploitation and “build‑a‑baby” arrangements during a Wednesday hearing.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick charged the Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services to investigate “the unethical and foreign interests exploiting the surrogacy and fertility industries in Texas” ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
Banning commercial surrogacy, the practice of paying a woman to carry and deliver a child for intended parents, and in vitro fertilization (IVF) are both part of the Texas GOP’s pro-life priority for the next legislative session.
Multiple witnesses and lawmakers at the committee hearing argued that lack of federal oversight regulating surrogacy and the absence of background-check requirements for intended parents leave the door open for child abuse, foreign exploitation, and risks to surrogate mothers.
Committee Chair Lois Kolkhorst (R–Brenham) cited a California case in which authorities removed 21 mainly surrogate-born children from a couple’s home after allegations of child abuse. She said surrogate mothers were allegedly misled about who they were carrying children for and noted the couple had alleged ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Jennifer Lahl, founder of the Center for Bioethics and Culture Network, testified that most of Europe and Asia prohibit commercial surrogacy, treating it “akin to exploitation or slavery-like practices.”
More:
https://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-senators-examine-surrogacy-exploitation/
