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Bill

HB 215

ABORTION: Provides for exceptions to the abortion laws of this state relative to rape and certain sex offenses

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Delisha Boyd

Louisiana bill creating abortion exceptions for pregnancies from rape and sex offenses, currently stalled in criminal justice committee.

Involuntarily deferred in committee.
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Bill Summary · HB 215

Legislative bill overview

HB 215 would create exceptions to Louisiana's abortion restrictions for pregnancies resulting from rape or certain sex offenses. The bill would allow abortion access in cases where a pregnancy is caused by rape, sexual battery, or other specified sex crimes, carving out narrow exemptions from the state's otherwise restrictive abortion laws.

Why is this important

Louisiana currently has some of the nation's most restrictive abortion laws with very limited exceptions. This bill directly addresses a significant gap in those exceptions—currently, pregnancies from rape are not automatically exempted—which affects survivors' reproductive autonomy and medical decision-making after sexual violence. The outcome could materially change healthcare options for a vulnerable population.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional and evidentiary standards: Questions about what constitutes qualifying sex offenses, whether conviction is required, and how survivors would document crimes to access abortion
  • Timeline conflicts: Uncertainty about how rape exceptions interact with Louisiana's strict gestational limits on abortion (currently 6 weeks in many contexts)
  • Survivor burden: Concerns that requiring proof of sex crimes creates additional barriers for trauma survivors seeking time-sensitive medical care
  • Broader policy disagreement: Fundamental disagreement between abortion restriction and abortion access advocates about whether any exceptions should exist

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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