Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act

Bill Number

S. 4879

Origin Chamber

Senate

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

Last Updated

2026-07-07T04:53:30Z

AI-Generated Summary

Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act (S. 4879)

Purpose This bill establishes federal protections to ensure health care providers can deliver reproductive health care services without interference from states, individuals, or entities when those services are lawful in the state where they are provided.

Key Provisions

• Definitions: Clarifies "health care provider" to include physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and related entities licensed or seeking to provide services; "reproductive health care services" covers abortion, contraception, in vitro fertilization, and related counseling or referrals delivered in medical settings or via telehealth; and "State" includes all states, territories, and local governments.
• Right to Provide Services: Prohibits any person, entity, or state from blocking, restricting, or disadvantaging providers or assistants in delivering lawful reproductive services, including to out-of-state patients.
• Enforcement Mechanisms: Authorizes the U.S. Attorney General to sue violators; grants individuals and providers a private right of action; allows courts to issue injunctions, award attorney fees to prevailing plaintiffs, and exercise jurisdiction without requiring exhaustion of other remedies; and removes state immunity from federal lawsuits.
• Federal Funding Restrictions: Bars states from using federal funds to pursue legal actions or licensing penalties against providers for lawful services.
• Grant Programs: Allocates $40 million for legal defense grants to assist providers facing legal issues and another $40 million for security grants to enhance facility protections, staff training, and data security.
• Insurance Protections: Prevents liability insurers from denying coverage or suing providers solely for offering lawful reproductive services.
• Severability: Ensures that if any part of the Act is invalidated, the rest remains in effect.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Creates a new federal statutory right to provide reproductive health care that overrides conflicting state limitations.
• Introduces federal private rights of action and abrogation of state sovereign immunity under the Eleventh Amendment for enforcement.
• Establishes dedicated federal grant funding streams and insurance nondiscrimination rules not previously codified for this purpose.
• Shifts enforcement authority to federal courts and the Attorney General in areas traditionally handled by states.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Department of Justice in civil enforcement and the Department of Health and Human Services in administering grants; states may face increased litigation and restrictions on using federal funds for certain regulatory actions.
• Citizens: Enhances protections for providers and patients seeking services across state lines but could lead to ongoing legal disputes over access.
• International Relations: No direct effects identified in the bill.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Health care providers and their staff offering reproductive services.
• Patients receiving or seeking such care.
• State governments and officials enforcing related laws.
• Legal service organizations and insurers involved in provider support.
• Federal agencies responsible for grants and enforcement.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Raises federalism questions by limiting state authority over health care regulation and explicitly overriding Tenth and Eleventh Amendment protections.
• Relies on commerce clause jurisdiction for services affecting interstate activity.
• Creates broad equitable relief and fee-shifting provisions that favor plaintiffs in enforcement actions.
• Includes rules of construction to preserve other federal agency authority while expanding oversight of state officials.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Murray, Patty [D-WA]

Cosponsors (21)

Sen. Alsobrooks, Angela D. [D-MD], Sen. Baldwin, Tammy [D-WI], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT], Sen. Heinrich, Martin [D-NM], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Hickenlooper, John W. [D-CO], Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA], Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI], Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA], Sen. Whitehouse, Sheldon [D-RI], Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR], Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

Recent Actions

• 2026-06-24: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
• 2026-06-24: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

• Let Doctors Provide Reproductive Health Care Act — issued 2026-06-24 — PDF (11 pages)