An Act amending Titles 18 (Crimes and Offenses), 35 (Health and Safety) and 40 (Insurance) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in provisions relating to abortion, repealing provisions relating to short title of chapter and to legislative intent, further providing for definitions, repealing provisions relating to medical consultation and judgment, to informed consent, to parental consent, to abortion facilities, to printed information, to Commonwealth interference prohibited, to spousal notice, to determination of gestational age, to abortion on unborn child of 24 or more weeks gestational age, to infanticide, to prohibited acts and to reporting, further providing for publicly owned facilities, public officials and public funds and for fetal experimentation and repealing provisions relating to civil penalties, to criminal penalties, to State Board of Medicine and State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and to construction; providing for reproductive rights; repealing provisions relating to compliance with Federal health care legislation as to regulation of insurers and related persons generally; and imposing penalties.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Lisa Borowski and 33 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania bill repeals abortion restrictions including gestational limits, parental consent, and spousal notice requirements while establishing abortion as protected reproductive right and allowing public funding.

Referred to Health

Legislative bill overview

HB 26 would significantly liberalize Pennsylvania's abortion laws by repealing numerous existing restrictions, including requirements for parental consent, spousal notice, informed consent waiting periods, and gestational age limitations. The bill would also establish abortion as a protected reproductive right and remove prohibitions on public funding and facilities from providing abortion services.

Why is this important

Pennsylvania currently has some of the country's more restrictive abortion laws, including a 24-week gestational limit and parental consent requirements. This bill would fundamentally reshape abortion access in the state, potentially making it one of the most permissive in the nation and affecting hundreds of thousands of women's healthcare options. The change would also have significant budgetary and administrative implications for state healthcare systems and insurance regulations.

Potential points of contention

Gestational age limits: The bill removes the current 24-week restriction, allowing abortion throughout pregnancy, which conflicts with views that prioritize fetal viability and life

Parental consent repeal: Eliminating parental notification for minors raises concerns about parental rights and involvement in minors' medical decisions versus adolescent autonomy arguments

Public funding and facilities: Requiring state resources for abortion services conflicts with taxpayers' moral objections while supporters argue it ensures equitable healthcare access regardless of income

Informed consent removal: Eliminating waiting periods and disclosure requirements raises questions about procedural safeguards versus patient autonomy and trust in medical professionals