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H.R. 4131: Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025

The Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 aims to regulate the disposal of fetal remains from abortions in the United States. The key provisions of the bill are as follows:

Prohibition on Disposal in Public Water Systems

The bill prohibits abortion providers from placing fetal remains into publicly owned water systems. These systems are defined as facilities managed by federal, state, or local governments that are responsible for providing, transporting, or treating water.

Penalties for Violations

If an abortion provider violates the prohibition mentioned above, they may face significant penalties. This includes fines in accordance with Title 18 of the United States Code, imprisonment for up to 5 years, or a combination of both.

Liability Exemption

The bill clarifies that individuals upon whom an abortion is performed will not be held liable for any offenses related to violations of the disposal prohibition. This provision is designed to protect patients from legal repercussions concerning the disposal of fetal remains.

Relation to Existing State Laws

The legislation does not override any state or local laws that already prohibit abortion providers from placing fetal remains into publicly owned water systems. This means that states can maintain or impose stricter regulations if they choose to do so.

Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions for key terms:

  • Abortion: Defined as a procedure to intentionally kill an unborn child or terminate a pregnancy, unless the intent is to produce a live birth or remove a dead unborn child.
  • Abortion Provider: Identifies individuals performing abortions, excluding the patients themselves.
  • Fetal Remains: Refers to the remains of an aborted fetus and any medical waste associated with an abortion.
  • Publicly Owned Water System: Encompasses any government-managed system that provides, transports, or treats water.

Implementation

This legislation is intended to ensure the respectful handling of fetal remains following an abortion, aiming to establish clear legal parameters within which abortion providers must operate with respect to the disposal of such remains.

Relevant Companies

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Sponsors

5 bill sponsors

Actions

2 actions

Date Action
Jun. 25, 2025 Introduced in House
Jun. 25, 2025 Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

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