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Prohibits abortion providers from placing fetal remains into publicly owned water systems and makes violations a federal crime punishable by fines and up to five years imprisonment. The person receiving the abortion is explicitly exempt from criminal liability. The law defines key terms (including “abortion,” “abortion provider,” “fetal remains,” and “publicly owned water system”), preserves state and local laws on the topic, and applies criminal penalties to providers only. It does not create a federal disposal program or appropriate funds.
The bill creates federal standards that protect public health by criminalizing improper fetal-tissue disposal and clarifying enforcement, but does so by imposing criminal penalties and compliance burdens that may deter providers, raise costs, create legal complexity, and reduce access to abortion care.
Local and state water systems and nearby communities are protected from improper disposal of fetal tissue and related medical waste, reducing environmental and public-health risks.
State and local governments (and enforcers) gain a single set of federal standards and criminal penalties for improper disposal, creating clearer legal authority for enforcement across jurisdictions.
Women seeking abortion care and clinicians may face reduced access to services because federal criminalization of disposal practices could deter providers from offering abortion-related care in some areas.
Abortion providers and other clinicians face increased legal risk — including fines and up to 5 years imprisonment for improper disposal practices — creating severe individual consequences for providers.
Clinics may face higher compliance costs and restricted waste-handling options, which could limit service availability or raise prices for patients.
Introduced June 25, 2025 by James E. Banks · Last progress June 25, 2025