Sponsors (56)
The bill increases criminal and civil remedies to deter and punish nonconsensual administration of abortion drugs and to compensate victims, but in doing so it creates significant legal and financial risks for providers and distributors and may reduce access to lawful medication abortion while raising federal–state conflicts.
Women and pregnant people are better protected from nonconsensual administration of abortion drugs because the bill creates criminal penalties (including long terms for serious cases) that act as a federal deterrent against forcible or coercive use of mifepristone or misoprostol.
Women who are given an abortion-inducing drug without informed consent can sue for damages and recover attorney's fees, providing a civil remedy and individual accountability.
Victims of nonconsensual administration that causes serious injury or death face stronger legal accountability because the bill increases penalties for cases with severe harm.
People seeking lawful abortions — especially in rural areas and via telemedicine/mail-order — could face reduced access because broad definitions and strict liability for sellers/shippers may chill telemedicine and mail-order distribution of mifepristone and misoprostol.
Patients and providers across states could face legal uncertainty and disrupted care because federal prosecution for consensual abortion-related activities may conflict with state laws that permit abortion.
Clinicians, pharmacists, and distributors may be exposed to federal prosecution and large civil damages for ordinary prescribing or dispensing errors, risking professional liability for routine care.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates federal criminal penalties and a private civil cause of action for knowingly giving an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant person without informed consent.
Official title: To amend title 18, United States Code, to establish Federal penalties for the knowing and intentional administration of any abortion-inducing drug to a woman without her informed consent, if the abortion-inducing drug has been shipped or transported in interstate commerce, and for other purposes.
Introduced December 4, 2025 by Mark B. Messmer · Last progress December 4, 2025
Creates a new federal crime and civil cause of action for knowingly and intentionally administering an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant person without their informed consent. The measure makes such conduct punishable by imprisonment (up to 25 years), allows additional penalties if the act results in serious bodily injury or death, and gives victims a private right to sue for compensatory, treble statutory, and punitive damages plus attorneys' fees. The text defines key terms (including naming mifepristone and misoprostol as abortion-inducing drugs), treats attempts and conspiracies the same as completed offenses, cross-references existing definitions for “serious bodily injury” and “unborn child,” and directs clerical updates to Title 18 to add the new section.