Sponsors (12)
The bill gives federal prosecutors a new tool to curb adults transporting minors across state lines for abortions and provides implementation stability, but it substantially increases federal criminal exposure for helpers and risks deterring timely care for minors while expanding DOJ involvement and costs.
Federal prosecutors and DOJ: gain explicit criminal authority to prosecute adults who transport minors across state lines to evade state abortion laws, giving the federal government a clear tool to address cross‑state circumvention.
Minors and their parents/families: may be better protected from being taken across state lines for abortions without parental knowledge or consent because the new federal deterrent could reduce such transfers.
All Americans / covered parties: the bill’s severability clause preserves valid remaining provisions if part of the law is struck down, maintaining continuity of other protections and obligations.
Adults who assist minors (parents, family members, healthcare facilitators): could face new federal criminal exposure for helping minors obtain out‑of‑state abortions, raising significant civil liberties and criminalization concerns.
Minors seeking abortion care and those who help them: may forgo or delay arranging out‑of‑state care because adults fear federal prosecution, which can worsen health outcomes for young patients.
Taxpayers, DOJ, and the federal court system: expanding federal involvement in abortion‑related prosecutions is likely to increase DOJ caseloads and associated prosecution and litigation costs.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Adds new chapter(s) to Title 18 aimed at transportation of minors to circumvent state abortion laws, and sets a 45-day effective date with severability.
Creates new entries in Title 18 of the U.S. Code to criminalize and address the transportation of minors in ways that circumvent state laws relating to abortion and adds a severability clause; the bill does not include the text of the substantive offenses, penalties, or definitions in the version provided. The act takes effect 45 days after enactment and includes a severability provision so that invalidation of one part would not void the remainder.
Official title: Amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.
Introduced January 15, 2026 by Ashley Brooke Moody · Last progress January 15, 2026