A newly introduced bill in Mississippi is drawing national attention for its unusual focus on male reproductive behavior. The proposal, titled the Contraception Begins at Erection Act, would make it unlawful for a man to ejaculate without the intention of creating a child.

The bill arrives amid years of intense debate over women’s reproductive rights following the 2022 reversal of Roe v. Wade. Supporters say it highlights how legislation often targets women, while men face few comparable restrictions.

According to the bill’s summary, releasing sperm without the goal of fertilization would become a finable offense. There would be no jail time, but the financial penalties increase sharply: $1,000 for the first violation, $5,000 for the second, and $10,000 for any following incidents.

However, there are exceptions. For example, donating sperm for fertility treatments or ejaculating while using contraception intended to prevent pregnancy would not be penalized.

The measure was introduced by Mississippi lawmaker Bradford Blackmon. He says the bill is designed to expose a double standard. “Across the country, laws about contraception and abortion overwhelmingly focus on women,” he wrote. “Men are half of the equation, yet rarely included in these discussions.”

Blackmon later noted that when legislation regulating men’s bodies is suggested, outrage follows almost immediately—an experience women know well.

If approved by Governor Tate Reeves, the act would take effect July 1, 2025. Mississippi remains one of 12 states with near-total abortion bans, a landscape that continues to fuel passionate debate on reproductive autonomy for all.