S. 1756 · In committee · Health

Conscience Protection Act of 2025

Sponsor: James Lankford (R-OK)

What it does

• Prohibits the federal government and federally-funded entities from penalizing health care providers or insurers that decline to provide, refer for, insure, or facilitate abortion services.
• Allows individuals and entities harmed by violations of federal conscience laws to bring civil lawsuits for relief, including against state governmental entities.
• Authorizes the Department of Health and Human Services to issue rules and enforce compliance with federal conscience laws protecting health care workers and entities.

Official summary

Conscience Protection Act of 2025 This bill explicitly prohibits penalizing health care entities (e.g., health care providers, insurers) for declining to participate in or facilitate abortion services. It also allows individuals to bring civil actions for violations of certain federal conscience laws, and it specifically authorizes Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) rulemaking and enforcement relating to such laws. (In general, the existing federal conscience laws referenced in the bill prohibit entities that receive federal funds from requiring providers or patients to participate in health care services they find religiously or morally objectionable.) Specifically, the bill prohibits the federal government and entities receiving federal health-related funding (e.g., states) from penalizing health care entities that decline to provide, refer for, provide insurance coverage for, or facilitate abortions. The bill does not (1) affect federal requirements for providing emergency stabilizing treatment for pregnant women or unborn children, or (2) prevent health care entities from voluntarily participating in or providing coverage for abortions where not prohibited by law…

Latest action

Mar 19, 2026: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.

Committee: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions