Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8603
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-04T15:39:09Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The legislation aims to prohibit a specific type of abortion procedure known as a dismemberment abortion by adding restrictions to federal criminal law.
Key Provisions
- Prohibition and Penalties: Physicians are barred from knowingly performing a dismemberment abortion that kills an unborn child if the act occurs in or affects interstate or foreign commerce. Violations may result in fines or imprisonment for up to 2 years.
- Life Exception: The ban does not apply when the procedure is needed to save the life of the mother due to a physical disorder, illness, or injury, including those caused by the pregnancy.
- Rule of Construction: The law does not restrict abortions performed by other methods, even in cases of rape or incest.
- Civil Remedies: Individuals affected by a violation, such as the woman or a parent of a minor, may file civil lawsuits for monetary damages, including triple the cost of the procedure, punitive damages, and attorney fees. The woman herself cannot face monetary penalties from such suits.
- Immunity: The woman on whom the procedure is performed is protected from prosecution under this section or related conspiracy laws.
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms, including "abortion" as the intentional killing of an unborn child or termination of a pregnancy (with exceptions for live birth or removing a deceased fetus), "dismemberment abortion" as using certain instruments to cut or crush fetal parts, "minor" as under age 18, and "unborn child" as a human organism from fertilization onward.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section 1532 to Chapter 74 of Title 18, United States Code, creating a federal criminal offense for dismemberment abortions.
- Updates the chapter heading from "Partial-Birth Abortions" to "Abortions" and makes corresponding changes to the table of chapters.
Potential Impacts
- May affect medical providers by limiting certain surgical techniques in abortion procedures.
- Could influence access to abortion services for citizens, particularly those seeking specific methods.
- Involves federal oversight in areas traditionally handled by states, potentially affecting interstate medical practices.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Physicians and other medical professionals authorized to perform abortions.
- Women undergoing or considering abortions.
- Parents of minors involved in abortion procedures.
- Legal systems handling civil claims related to violations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Establishes federal criminal penalties tied to interstate commerce for a medical procedure.
- Includes provisions for civil lawsuits and attorney fee awards, which could lead to additional litigation.
- Builds on prior federal abortion-related laws in Title 18 by expanding the scope of regulated procedures.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (16)
Rep. Onder, Robert F. [R-MO-3], Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-NJ-4], Rep. Harris, Andy [R-MD-1], Rep. Fischbach, Michelle [R-MN-7], Rep. Biggs, Sheri [R-SC-3], Rep. Williams, Roger [R-TX-25], Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17], Rep. Bost, Mike [R-IL-12], Rep. Tenney, Claudia [R-NY-24], Rep. Estes, Ron [R-KS-4], Rep. Stutzman, Marlin A. [R-IN-3], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Mann, Tracey [R-KS-1], Rep. Miller, Mary E. [R-IL-15], Rep. Gooden, Lance [R-TX-5], Rep. Foxx, Virginia [R-NC-5]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (7 pages)