Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4131
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Health
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:05:27Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
This bill aims to prevent the disposal of fetal remains into publicly owned water systems by establishing a federal prohibition on such practices by abortion providers.
Key Provisions Outlined
- Prohibition: Abortion providers are barred from placing fetal remains into publicly owned water systems.
- Penalties: Violations result in fines under federal law, imprisonment for up to 5 years, or both.
- Patient Protection: Individuals who undergo an abortion face no liability for any related violations.
- State and Local Laws: The federal rule does not override stricter state or local requirements on the same issue.
- Definitions:
- Abortion: A procedure using a device or substance to intentionally end a pregnancy, with exceptions for live births or removing a deceased fetus.
- Abortion provider: The person performing the abortion, excluding the patient.
- Fetal remains: Remains of an aborted fetus (or parts thereof) plus associated medical waste.
- Publicly owned water system: Facilities owned or controlled by federal, state, or local governments for providing, transporting, or treating water, including connected pipes and drains.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This legislation adds a new section (498F) to Part H of title IV of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 289 et seq.), creating the first explicit federal ban on this specific disposal method. It introduces criminal penalties not previously tied to this activity at the federal level.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Federal authorities would enforce the prohibition through the Public Health Service Act framework, potentially requiring coordination with state and local water system operators for monitoring and compliance.
- Citizens: May affect how medical waste from abortions is handled, directing it away from public water infrastructure.
- International Relations: No direct effects identified in the bill.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Abortion providers, who must alter disposal practices to avoid penalties.
- Public water system operators and government entities at federal, state, and local levels responsible for water infrastructure.
- Individuals seeking abortions, who are explicitly shielded from liability.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
The bill establishes new federal criminal liability for certain medical disposal methods while preserving state authority to impose additional rules. It operates within existing public health statutes without altering broader abortion regulations.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (5)
Rep. LaMalfa, Doug [R-CA-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Greene, Marjorie Taylor [R-GA-14], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3]
Recent Actions
- 2025-06-25: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 2025-06-25: Introduced in House
- 2025-06-25: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 — issued 2025-06-25 — PDF (4 pages)