Sponsors (2)
The bill aims to protect public water systems and reduce regulatory ambiguity by criminalizing disposal of fetal remains into publicly owned water infrastructure, but it does so by imposing federal criminal penalties and compliance duties that could deter providers, reduce abortion access, and create federal–state legal and cost burdens.
Public water system operators and the public — makes disposal of fetal remains into publicly owned water systems a federal offense, reducing the risk that water infrastructure will be used for improper disposal and protecting water safety.
Water system operators and regulators — clarifies statutory definitions (e.g., 'fetal remains', 'publicly owned water system'), reducing ambiguity for compliance and enforcement.
People seeking abortion care and abortion providers — by creating federal criminal penalties tied to disposal practices, the bill risks chilling providers' willingness to offer services and could reduce access to abortion care.
Abortion providers and clinical staff — establishes federal criminal penalties (up to 5 years imprisonment) for certain disposal practices, increasing legal exposure for healthcare workers.
State and local governments and healthcare facilities — adds an overlapping federal criminal prohibition alongside existing state/local rules, creating federal–state legal complexity and higher compliance burdens for regulated entities.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Makes it a federal crime for abortion providers to place fetal remains into publicly owned water systems, punishable by fines and up to five years in prison, while exempting the patient.
Makes it a federal crime for an abortion provider to place fetal remains into a publicly owned water system, punishable by a fine and/or up to five years in prison, while explicitly exempting the patient from liability. One section only sets the act’s short title and creates no duties or funding. The measure also preserves state and local laws that prohibit the same conduct and includes definitions for key terms such as abortion, abortion provider, fetal remains, and publicly owned water system. No new funding or implementation timeline is specified.
Introduced June 25, 2025 by James E. Banks · Last progress June 25, 2025