S. 2172: Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025

This bill, titled the Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025, aims to prohibit the placement of fetal remains into publicly owned water systems. The key components of the bill are as follows:

Prohibition on Placement of Fetal Remains

The bill prohibits abortion providers from causing fetal remains to be placed in any publicly owned water system. This includes remains from abortions or any medical waste associated with abortions.

Penalties for Violation

If an abortion provider violates this prohibition, they may face penalties that include:

• A fine in accordance with federal law.
• Imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years.
• Or both fines and imprisonment.

Liability Protection for Individuals

The bill stipulates that individuals upon whom an abortion is performed will not be liable for any offense related to the violation of this prohibition. This means that patients who have undergone an abortion will not face legal repercussions regarding the disposal of fetal remains.

Relation to State and Local Laws

The legislation does not preempt any existing state or local laws that prohibit abortion providers from placing fetal remains into publicly owned water systems. States and local governments can maintain or establish their own regulations on this matter.

Definitions

The bill includes specific definitions for key terms:

• Abortion: The procedure involving the use of a device or substance to intentionally kill an unborn child or terminate a pregnancy, except in cases where the intent is to produce a live birth or remove a deceased unborn child.
• Abortion Provider: An individual who performs an abortion, excluding the person upon whom the abortion is performed.
• Fetal Remains: This term refers to the remains of an aborted fetus or any medical waste associated with an abortion.
• Publicly Owned Water System: A system owned or controlled by a government entity that provides, transports, or treats water.

Overall Purpose

The overall aim of the bill is to ensure that fetal remains are not disposed of in a manner that could potentially contaminate public water systems, thereby addressing concerns over public health and environmental integrity associated with abortion procedures.

Relevant Companies

None found