The Guardian | July 19, 2026
Transnational surrogacy arrangements are on the rise, but the increase also brings a rise in the number of children at risk of being “stateless.” Countries have different approaches to regulating surrogacy and parental recognition of children born from foreign surrogacy arrangements, and nations disagree about whether to ban or regulate surrogacy–both leaving an absence of global agreement on how to address surrogacy and the risks of statelessness.
The Guardian | July 19, 2026
Couples interested in surrogacy are increasingly choosing arrangements in Mexico, where surrogacy is largely unregulated and more affordable than surrogacy in the U.S. Feminist groups in Mexico raise concerns about exploitation of surrogates due to the lack of regulation, but they disagree about whether the practice should be banned or regulated.
USA Today | July 8, 2026
At the direction of the lieutenant governor, the Texas Senate Health and Human Services Committee is investigating foreign involvement in the state’s surrogacy industry. The Texas Republican party’s platform endorses a ban on compensated surrogacy for foreigners, citing concerns about foreigners obtaining US citizenship for their children via surrogacy. Critics – who note the small percentage of surrogacy cases involving foreigners in Texas – see the concern as a veiled attempt to further curtail access to reproductive technologies, including IVF, in the state.
The New Yorker | May 11, 2026
The 21 children born via different surrogates for a Los Angeles couple have been placed in foster care. The court case regarding the parents’ alleged cruelty toward the children continues. The couple has since had 6 more children via surrogates in several states, all of whom have also been placed in foster care. The number of children involved in the case and their placement in the child welfare system raises questions about limited surrogacy regulations in the U.S.
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.
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.
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.
The Wall Street Journal | December 27, 2025
Surrogacy can bring medical complications, but also financial burdens, for surrogates in the U.S. Without regulation, surrogates end up being responsible for medical bills and legal fees that intended parents or surrogacy agencies were supposed to pay.
NBC News | December 18, 2025
The FBI is investigating Surro Connections, a surrogacy agency headquartered in Washington state that abruptly closed in December 2025. The closure left pregnant surrogates without compensation or information. An estimated 150 families lost millions held in escrow by the agency.
