Introduced on May 14, 2025, the bill would bar the federal government and recipients of federal financial assistance from penalizing or discriminating against health care entities for declining to provide, refer for, pay for, cover, or arrange abortions. It would direct the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights to receive and promptly investigate complaints, issue findings, and require corrective action. The department could terminate federal assistance where permitted by law and refer violations to the Attorney General. Individuals or entities adversely affected by actual or threatened violations could bring civil actions, including against some government entities, and seek court-ordered relief and damages. The bill includes provisions on voluntary participation, emergency stabilizing treatment, and state insurance laws. It is in progress in the Senate committee listed in the metadata.
Health care workers, facilities, insurers, health plans, and other covered entities could receive protection from discrimination for declining to participate in abortion-related activities. People or entities adversely affected by violations could seek relief in court without first exhausting administrative remedies.
No publicly available information.
The bill’s findings say that conscience protections should be enforced consistently and that people and entities need a way to defend those rights when they are violated.
No publicly available information.