Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025
Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 would make it a federally enforceable crime for abortion providers to place fetal remains into publicly owned water systems. Violations could result in fines, imprisonment for up to five years, or both. The bill also protections patients from liability related to such offenses and preserves any state or local laws that already prohibit disposing of fetal remains in public water systems. The act defines key terms (abortion, abortion provider, fetal remains, publicly owned water system) and adds a new Section 498F to the Public Health Service Act. In short, the bill creates a federal prohibition on disposing of fetal remains in government-owned water systems and sets criminal penalties for providers who do so, while leaving room for state/local laws to impose additional restrictions.
Key Points
- 1Prohibition: Abortion providers may not place fetal remains into a publicly owned water system.
- 2Penalties: Violators may be fined under Title 18, imprisoned for up to 5 years, or both.
- 3Individual liability: An individual on whom an abortion is performed is not liable for offenses related to the disposal of fetal remains.
- 4Relation to other law: The bill does not preempt state or local laws restricting disposal of fetal remains; such laws can still apply.
- 5Definitions:
- 6- Abortion: A procedure intended to terminate a pregnancy or kill the unborn child, with specific exceptions for live birth or removing a dead fetus.
- 7- Abortion provider: The person performing the abortion (the patient and the person undergoing the abortion are not considered the provider).
- 8- Fetal remains: Remains of an aborted fetus (or parts) and related medical waste.
- 9- Publicly owned water system: Government-owned or government-controlled facilities that provide, transport, or treat water, including connected drains and pipes.