Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
This bill creates a new federal criminal offense for recklessly disposing of or abandoning fetal remains in a landfill or in U.S. navigable waters, punishable by up to three years imprisonment, a fine, or both. It defines "fetal remains" as any part of a human fetus deceased by reason of an abortion (excluding cremated parts), and states that the section does not authorize prosecuting a woman for disposal of her unborn child's remains. "Landfill" and "navigable waters" are tied to existing statutory definitions.
Liberal emphasizes chilling effect on providers and stigma.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions as a narrowly scoped criminal statute creating a federal offense with defined elements and cross-referenced definitions, but it provides limited implementation, jurisdictional, fiscal, and oversight detail.
This bill creates a new federal criminal offense for recklessly disposing of or abandoning fetal remains in a landfill or in U.S. navigable waters, punishable by up to three years imprisonment, a fine, or both.
It defines "fetal remains" as any part of a human fetus deceased by reason of an abortion (excluding cremated parts), and states that the section does not authorize prosecuting a woman for disposal of her unborn child's remains. "Landfill" and "navigable waters" are tied to existing statutory definitions.
Technically narrow and low-cost but tied to a highly polarized topic; Senate supermajority needs and legal/implementation uncertainties reduce odds.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions as a narrowly scoped criminal statute creating a federal offense with defined elements and cross-referenced definitions, but it provides limited implementation, jurisdictional, fiscal, and oversight detail.
Liberal emphasizes chilling effect on providers and stigma.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Liberal emphasizes chilling effect on providers and stigma.
Likely to view the bill as a targeted, symbolic anti-abortion measure that risks penalizing providers and stigmatizing abortion care despite the exemption for women.
Concern will focus on enforcement ambiguity, chilling effects on clinics, and federal criminalization of conduct already regulated by medical-waste and state law.
Some supporters of reproductive rights may see it as opening paths to further restrictions.
Mixed reaction: acknowledges intent to prevent improper disposal and environmental harm, but worries about overlap with existing laws and practical enforcement.
Would look for clearer mens rea, exemptions for standard medical waste practices, and federal-state role limits.
Sees potential for reasonable, narrowly tailored fixes if ambiguities are resolved.
Generally favorable: seen as protecting the dignity of unborn children and preventing disrespectful, environmentally harmful disposal.
Values the criminal penalty and federal backstop where state rules may be insufficient.
Some conservatives may prefer stronger penalties or broader prohibitions but will broadly support the bill's intent.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
Technically narrow and low-cost but tied to a highly polarized topic; Senate supermajority needs and legal/implementation uncertainties reduce odds.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Liberal emphasizes chilling effect on providers and stigma.
Technically narrow and low-cost but tied to a highly polarized topic; Senate supermajority needs and legal/implementation uncertainties red…
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill functions as a narrowly scoped criminal statute creating a federal offense with defined elements and cross-referenced definitions, but it provides limited implementat…
Go beyond the headline summary with full stakeholder mapping, legislative design analysis, passage barriers, and lens-by-lens tradeoff breakdowns.