The Cable | April 24, 2026
Longstanding issues of human trafficking and exploitation in Nigeria make the increasing use of surrogacy without regulation risky for surrogates and children born from these arrangements. Clear policies that regulate surrogacy, and a commission to develop and enforce such policies, could help orient surrogacy toward family building and away from exploitation.
NBC News | April 17, 2026
Jill Brand was the first person born through gestational surrogacy in Michigan in 1986. She and her mother talk about the process by which Jill was conceived and gestated. Jill’s parents also lobbied to change parentage laws in Michigan to accommodate surrogacy arrangements.
Philippine Daily Inquirer | April 12, 2026
The Bureau of Immigration in the Philippines reports that immigration officers stopped a woman in the Manila airport who was traveling to Beijing, and then Tbilisi, Georgia, to be a surrogate. She had been contacted by a recruiter via Facebook and was offered money in exchange for surrogacy services –– a practice regarded as human trafficking by authorities in the Philippines.
ERR | April 10, 2026
As part of a broader effort to address human trafficking, draft amendments to Estonian law would identify “exploitation for the purpose of surrogacy” as a form of human trafficking with penalties of up to 7 years of imprisonment.
Axios | March 29, 2026
Surrogacy goes more mainstream
Surrogacy is increasingly common in the U.S., although it still makes up a very small percentage of births in the U.S. overall. Ethical and legal complexities in the surrogacy process make it important to consider the experiences, rights, and needs of surrogates, intended parents, and children born via surrogacy.
Surrogacy laws are all over the map
Surrogacy laws vary widely by state in the U.S. Some states enforce surrogacy arrangements and have regulations about compensation and legal parentage, while others have no regulations at all. This article features CGS’ Surrogacy360’s map of US surrogacy regulation.
The steep cost of surrogacy
Surrogacy remains very expensive in the U.S., ranging from $100K-250K to cover compensation for the surrogate along with medical, clinic, agency, and legal fees. Insurance coverage is limited, which makes the practice inaccessible for most people.
The Conversation | March 26, 2026
New research on Ukrainian surrogates’ experiences in Georgia–following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine–show how surrogates lack strong legal protections and would benefit from clearer and more thorough policy-making on cross-border surrogacy.
ABC News | March 21, 2026
Australia’s patchwork of surrogacy laws motivate some to seek international surrogacy arrangements, which tend to be expensive, complicated, and potentially exploitative. Ethical issues with surrogacy have led many countries to ban the practice or eliminate compensation of surrogates, but others argue regulated compensation better recognizes the labor of surrogacy. These varied views have led to debates about how to reform Australia’s surrogacy laws.
KQED | March 19, 2026
Recent cases of wealthy individuals and couples making surrogacy arrangements to have numerous children are an anomaly, but they highlight the need for more regulations to protect surrogates. A surrogate’s Bill of Rights has been proposed in California as a way to improve existing regulations in the state.
February 26, 2026 | KQED
A recent high-profile investigation of a couple involved in surrogacy in California is raising questions about the industry. As the case shows, the lack of federal regulations to govern surrogacy makes it hard to protect surrogates, children born from surrogacy arrangements, and intended parents.
February 18, 2026 | ABC
An Australian couple had a child via surrogacy in Argentina last year, but around the same time, Argentina changed its regulations around surrogacy, and the surrogate is currently recognized as the legal parent. The couple cannot return with their baby to Australia until one of them is recognized as a legal parent. Australia is cautioning intended parents against pursuing surrogacy in Argentina given the new regulations.
