TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's legislature began reviewing amendments to expand reproductive rights Wednesday (Jan. 7), with key votes on the Assisted Reproduction Act (人工生殖法) expected Thursday. The Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, convened joint committee meetings where Minister of Health and Welfare Shih Chung-liang (石崇良) testified on proposed changes. The sessions covered both the Assisted Reproduction Act and amendments to the Organic Act for the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MHW, 衛福部).
The Social Welfare and Environmental Hygiene Committee (衛生環境委員會) plans to review the Assisted Reproduction Act amendments Thursday following Wednesday's preliminary discussions. The Executive Yuan (行政院), Taiwan's cabinet, approved the amendment in December 2025, aiming to balance women's reproductive health and children's best interests. The Judiciary and Organic Laws and Statutes Committee (司法及法制委員會) joined Wednesday's session to discuss ministry restructuring proposals.
Minister Shih emphasized that the amendments must keep up with the times while considering children's best interests as Taiwan's society evolves. He noted that lawmakers excluded the surrogate motherhood provision from the Executive Yuan's version due to ongoing controversy surrounding the practice in Taiwan. The proposal aligns with Taiwan's domestic legalization of same-sex marriage, ensuring related rights to artificial reproduction for same-sex couples and expanding access to reproductive services.
The amendment expands artificial reproduction access in line with global trends, allowing unmarried women over 18 and same-sex female couples to use artificial reproduction services. The joint committee meeting also reviewed proposals to restructure the ministry, including establishing new agencies focused on child and family support and long-term care services for Taiwan's aging population. ◼