Michigan joins rest of U.S. in decriminalizing paid surrogacy

(Lansing, MI)  --  Michigan will soon no longer be the only state to ban paid surrogacy.

The state Senate passed a bill on Tuesday to repeal that law and sent it to Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who says she will sign it.  The ban was put in place in the 1980s when the case of "Baby M" made national headlines when the surrogate decided she wanted to keep the baby instead of giving it to the parents.  

A surrogate would have to be at least 21, given birth to at least one child, have legal representation independent of the parents, and undergo medical and mental health evaluations.