Skip to content
Govbase
Govbase
Congress·In Committee·S. 1756

Sen. Lankford Introduces Bill to Protect Health Workers Who Refuse to Provide Abortions

Conscience Protection Act of 2025

1 day ago·View on Congress.gov

Legislative Progress

Senate
House
President
Law

Key Points

  • The bill prohibits the federal government and any entity receiving federal funds—including state and local governments—from punishing health care workers, hospitals, pharmacies, or insurers that refuse to provide, perform, refer for, pay for, or participate in abortions.
  • The bill creates a new private right of action, allowing any individual or entity harmed by a conscience violation to sue in federal court for injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorneys' fees—without first going through an agency complaint process.
  • The "health care entity" definition is extremely broad, covering individual doctors, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, medical students, hospitals, labs, insurers, health sharing ministries, accountable care organizations, and social services providers.
  • HHS's Office for Civil Rights would be required to receive and promptly investigate conscience violation complaints, issue findings, and require corrective action. The Secretary could cut federal funding to non-compliant entities, including state governments.
  • The bill explicitly states it does not override emergency care requirements for pregnant women under EMTALA, and it does not prevent entities that voluntarily choose to provide abortions from continuing to do so.
HealthcareCivil Rights

Impact Analysis

Personal Impact

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

State Impacts

Scores: 1 = low, 5 = highSentiment: -5 to +5 (net benefit)

Milestones

2 milestones3 actions
Mar 19, 2026Senate

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

May 14, 2025Senate

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

May 14, 2025

Introduced in Senate

What Happens Next

Projected impacts based on AI analysis

Within 6-12 months of enactment

HHS Office for Civil Rights begins accepting and investigating conscience violation complaints under the new framework

Health care workers, pharmacies, hospitals, and insurers who feel punished for refusing to participate in abortion would have a formal process to file complaints and receive prompt investigation

Immediately upon enactment

Individuals and entities can file lawsuits in federal court for conscience violations without waiting for agency action

Health workers and organizations would immediately gain the right to sue employers, states, or other entities that discriminate against them for refusing to participate in abortions, and could seek money damages and attorneys' fees

Related Bills

1 bill
H.R. 3411Identical bill

Conscience Protection Act of 2025

May 14 — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Source Information

Document Type

Congressional Bill

Official Title

Conscience Protection Act of 2025

Bill NumberS 1756
Congress119th Congress
ChamberSenate
Latest ActionCommittee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

Sponsor

Cosponsors

(23)
R: 23

Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.