This bill protects access to fertility care. It says people have a right to get assisted reproductive technology (ART), keep going with a treatment plan already underway, and keep control over their reproductive genetic materials (like eggs or sperm). It also lets health care providers offer ART and share evidence-based information, and it lets health insurers choose to cover these services.

States and local governments may not ban or place unreasonable limits on this care, especially rules that are tougher than those on similar medical procedures, don’t clearly improve health or safety, or that unfairly block access. Patients, providers, and the U.S. Attorney General can go to court to stop these limits; courts can block them and award attorney fees to those who win. Real health and safety rules are still allowed if they truly protect patients and there isn’t a less restrictive way to do it. This law overrides conflicting federal and state laws, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but it does not change state rules about insurance coverage for ART. The Health and Human Services Secretary must issue regulations within one year, and if one part of the law is struck down, the rest stays in place.

Key points

• Who is affected: People seeking fertility treatment; health care providers; health insurers; state and local officials.
• What changes: Federal right to access ART and continue care; ability to challenge unlawful limits in court; courts can block bad rules and award attorney fees; real safety rules still allowed; conflicting laws are overridden; no change to state insurance coverage rules.
• When: HHS must issue regulations within one year of enactment.