Bill
HSB 186
Imposes written, time‑sensitive informed consent and discharge instructions for medication abortion, restricts mifepristone dispensing to clinical settings, and funds reversal info
Status and timeline
- Introduced: February 17, 2025
- Committee action: Subcommittee recommended passage (Feb 25, 2025); Committee report recommending passage (Feb 26, 2025)
- Renumbered: HF 775 (Committee report approving bill, renumbered)
- Additional action: Committee report approving bill (March 5, 2025)
- Classification: Proposed bill; subject to Health and Human Services committee action
Purpose and intent
- Establish enhanced informed-consent requirements for medication abortions and regulate the dispensing of abortion-inducing drugs (notably mifepristone) within the state.
- Require explicit, written confirmation from pregnant patients that they were informed of risks, including the potential (if applicable) to reverse effects and that time is critical.
- Promote access to information and resources about reversing a medication abortion through the state health department’s materials.
Key provisions
1) Informed consent and certification
- For a medication abortion, except in a medical emergency, a physician (or the referring physician or an agent) must obtain written certification from the pregnant woman.
- The certification must show that the woman has been informed, prior to the abortion, of all risks commonly associated with medication abortion.
- The certification must acknowledge that it may be possible to reverse the intended effects if the patient changes her mind, but that time is of the essence.
- Information about reversing the effects and assistance/resources available to reverse are provided on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) website.
2) Post-dispensing discharge instructions
- After dispensing an abortion-inducing drug, the attending physician or the physician’s agent must provide written discharge instructions that include the specified statements regarding risks and reversal information.
3) State information dissemination
- HHS is required to publish and maintain on its website materials informing women about the possibility of reversing a medication abortion and the resources available to assist.
4) Mifepristone dispensing restrictions
- It is prohibited to dispense mifepristone to a patient in the state for use in inducing a medication abortion unless it is dispensed directly to the patient in a healthcare setting.
5) Enforcement and discipline
- Failure by a physician to comply with these provisions is grounds for licensee discipline.
6) Emergency exception
- The consent and information requirements do not apply in cases of medical emergencies.
Affected parties and impacts
- Physicians and healthcare providers: Additional written consent requirements, discharge instructions, and potential licensure discipline for noncompliance.
- Patients seeking medication abortions: New informed-consent disclosures, explicit information on reversal options, and requirement that mifepristone be dispensed in specific settings.
- Health care settings and dispensing sites: Compliance with dispensing location restrictions for mifepristone.
- State agencies (HHS): Responsible for developing and publishing informational materials and maintaining resources on reversal options.
Notes
- The bill emphasizes patient information, time-sensitive reversal considerations, and stricter dispensing controls, alongside professional-licensing oversight.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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