Sponsors (36)
Makes it unlawful for governments or others to restrict or punish interstate travel for reproductive health care lawful in the destination State and provides federal enforcement and private civil remedies.
Official title: Protect freedom of travel and reproductive rights.
Introduced June 8, 2026 by Catherine Marie Cortez Masto · Last progress June 8, 2026
The bill creates enforceable federal protections for interstate travel and assistance to obtain reproductive health care—expanding access and remedies for patients and helpers—while shifting significant legal exposure and litigation costs onto states and some private actors, and narrowing state policy flexibility.
People seeking reproductive health care (especially women) can travel to other states to obtain lawful services and cannot be sanctioned or penalized for doing so.
Out‑of‑state patients can be treated by providers in other states without those providers facing liability when the same care is lawful for the provider's state, preserving access to care across state lines.
Organizations and individuals who assist travel (transport, lodging, referrals) are protected from liability or sanctions for facilitating out‑of‑state reproductive care, reducing risk for nonprofits and helpers.
State governments and taxpayers may face increased litigation costs and liability because states and state officials lose certain sovereign and qualified immunity defenses when enforcing abortion or reproductive‑care laws.
Private individuals and organizations (including nonprofits and faith‑based groups) that are sued may face greater litigation risk and costs, since defendants can be hauled into federal court and plaintiffs can recover fees.
The law limits states' ability to enforce certain local public‑health or criminal laws related to pregnancy, reducing state policy flexibility to respond to local circumstances.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Makes it illegal for any person or government to block, punish, or otherwise disadvantage people who travel to another State to obtain reproductive health care that is lawful where provided, and protects those who help them travel. It also protects providers who deliver or enable care to nonresidents and preempts state laws that conflict with these protections. Creates federal enforcement tools: the Attorney General may sue to enforce the law, and private parties (including providers) may bring suits in state or federal court for damages, injunctions, and other relief. The Act strips common state immunity defenses and allows removal of state cases to federal court when they would interfere with the protected right to travel for reproductive care.