This story kind of reminds me of when I had a cabbage patch preemie doll as a young girl (yes, a PREEMIE - those were in high demand) and she came with adoption papers. But this bill is definitely stranger.

A reader told me to check out HB 1703, which would effectively prohibit the transfer of an embryo except in an adoption proceeding. What does this mean? Hell if I know. But it’s sponsored by Sugar Land’s Charlie Howard, which can never be good.

According to the bill, the transfer of a human embryo to another person for implantation (who is not the generic parent) must be preceded by a court order authorizing the adoption of the embryo. The petition would read “In the Interest of the Embryo of [Insert Name Here]. Such as [Cabbage Patch Preemie].

The legislation also forbids ‘human embryo trafficking,’ which is defined as using in vitro fertilization for selling, buying, or transferring the embryo to a person who is not the genetic parenting. But it’s OK if the embryo is officially adopted. Or something. And, obviously, human embryo trafficking is rampant on the border.

According to the Committee report, “human embryo banks” engage in the business of creating and selling “designer babies,” while disregarding thousands of frozen embryos already in storage. In other words, let’s think of a way to ban embryonic stem cell research without actually saying embryonic stem cell research. Brilliant!

The bill has already been heard by the State Affairs committee and sent to Calendars. Because that’s just the way the Lege rolls embryos.