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H 1663

An Act relative to unborn victims of violence

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by David DeCoste

H 1663 - An Act relative to unborn victims of violence SummaryThis bill, known as "An Act relative to unborn victims of violence," aims to expand legal protections for unborn child

Hearing rescheduled to 11/18/2025 from 01:00 PM-08:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual Hearing updated to New End Time
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Bill Summary · H 1663

H 1663 - An Act relative to unborn victims of violence

Summary

This bill, known as "An Act relative to unborn victims of violence," aims to expand legal protections for unborn children in cases of violent crimes against pregnant women. The key provisions of the legislation are:

  1. Recognizing Unborn Children as Victims: The bill would establish that an unborn child at any stage of development is considered a "person" under the state's criminal laws. This would allow charges to be brought against perpetrators for crimes that result in harm or death to an unborn child, in addition to charges related to the pregnant woman.

  2. Increased Penalties: The legislation proposes enhanced criminal penalties for offenses committed against a pregnant woman that result in injury or death to her unborn child. The specific penalty increases would vary depending on the severity of the crime.

  3. Exceptions for Legal Abortion: The bill explicitly states that legal abortion procedures performed with the consent of the pregnant woman would not be subject to the new unborn victims provisions.

Impact and Affected Parties

The primary impact of this bill would be on pregnant women who are victims of violent crimes, as well as the perpetrators of such crimes. By recognizing unborn children as victims, the legislation aims to provide additional legal recourse and protections for pregnancies terminated through criminal acts.

Supporters argue this would acknowledge the humanity of unborn children and deliver more robust justice for crimes against them. Critics raise concerns that the bill could infringe on women's reproductive rights and be used to challenge the legality of abortion.

Procedural Details

H 1663 was introduced on February 27, 2025 and is currently awaiting a hearing that has been rescheduled to November 18, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The hearing will take place both in-person (location A-1) and virtually. This bill replaces a previous related bill, HD 1871.

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

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