Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025

The Respectful Treatment of Unborn Remains Act of 2025 would bar abortion providers from placing fetal remains into publicly owned water systems (such as municipal water or wastewater facilities). Violations could trigger fines, imprisonment for up to five years, or both, under federal law. The bill also protects the individual on whom an abortion is performed from liability for such offenses and clarifies that state or local laws prohibiting this disposal method would not be preempted. It provides definitions for key terms, including abortion, abortion provider, fetal remains, and publicly owned water system. In short, the measure creates a new federal offense targeting the disposal of fetal remains in public water infrastructure, with penalties and a policy emphasis on ensuring respectful handling of fetal remains. It maintains room for state or local requirements that prohibit this disposal method and sets out specific definitions to guide enforcement.