Sponsors (49)
The bill strengthens pharmacy-level access, privacy, and legal remedies to expand timely contraceptive access for many, but it shifts compliance costs and litigation risk onto pharmacies and leaves legal, financial, and social gaps that may continue to block access for some populations.
Women and people who can become pregnant will get timely access to contraception at pharmacies — in-stock items must be provided immediately or customers promptly referred/transferred to a nearby confirmed-in-stock pharmacy — reducing delays in obtaining birth control.
Consumers gain enforceable remedies: a private right of action and civil penalties (daily fines with a cap) provide a legal mechanism to compel pharmacy compliance and offer recourse when access is denied.
Pharmacies must protect confidentiality and prevent harassment when customers request contraception, which helps preserve privacy and reduce stigma for people seeking reproductive care.
Community and retail pharmacies will face new compliance costs and the prospect of substantial civil penalties (including per‑day fines and caps), which could increase operational expenses and potentially raise retail prices for consumers.
Pharmacies and employees face increased litigation and liability risk from private enforcement, likely driving defensive staffing, administrative burdens, and higher legal costs.
HHS findings and guidance alone may lack immediate legal effect; without follow-up rulemaking, funding, or enforcement actions, the protections described could be uncertain or unevenly applied.
Based on analysis of 3 sections of legislative text.
Requires pharmacies to promptly provide or refer/transfer and expedite ordering for contraceptives and bars RFRA as a defense to enforcement.
Introduced June 23, 2025 by Robin L. Kelly · Last progress June 23, 2025
Requires pharmacies that handle FDA-approved contraceptives to promptly fill and provide in-stock contraceptives or, if out of stock, immediately offer a transfer/referral to a confirmed-in-stock pharmacy or order the item on an expedited basis and notify the customer. It also requires pharmacies to prevent harassment, intimidation, deception, or improper refusal when customers request contraceptives or contraception-related medicines. Narrow, routine exceptions are allowed (e.g., dispensing would be unlawful, customer cannot pay, or a pharmacist declines based on documented clinical judgment). The bill preserves employee protections under Title VII, preserves state laws that give greater customer protections, and bars use of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act as a defense against enforcing these pharmacy access rules. Contains findings about the public-health and civil-rights importance of contraceptive access and documents barriers (cost, geography, immigration status, language, discrimination, stigma) and disparities in unintended pregnancy; otherwise it does not appropriate funds or create additional programs.