Bill
LD 1154
Requires abortion informed consent to include perinatal hospice options in Maine, guiding patients with care planning; minor DHHS costs absorbed within current resources.
Status: Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD)
Introduction and purpose
- Introduced: March 20, 2025
- Purpose: To require that the informed consent process for abortion include information on perinatal hospice options. Perinatal hospice provides information and support to families when a fetal diagnosis suggests limited postnatal life, with ongoing care planning and options discussions.
Key provisions (as introduced)
- Informed consent requirement: The bill would mandate that abortion informed consent materials or the consent process include information about perinatal hospice.
- Scope of information: Information would need to cover perinatal hospice options available to patients, ensuring that individuals seeking abortion are informed about related care planning and support alternatives.
- Implementation considerations: The text references that information would be provided as part of the standard informed consent process for abortion, though specific delivery mechanisms (e.g., written materials, counseling, or required disclosures) are not detailed in the provided summary.
- Fiscal note: A Preliminary Fiscal Impact Statement indicates minor General Fund costs, with any additional costs to the Department of Health and Human Services expected to be absorbed within existing resources. No formal fiscal note was required.
Who would be affected
- Pregnant individuals seeking abortion services in Maine would be the primary beneficiaries of the enhanced informed consent.
- Healthcare providers and facilities performing abortions would be responsible for ensuring that perinatal hospice information is provided as part of the consent process.
- The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) could see minor administrative costs associated with implementing or disseminating required information, offset by existing resources.
Fiscal impact
- General Fund: Minor cost increase anticipated.
- Administrative impact: Minor costs to DHHS, absorbable within current budgeted resources.
- Note: The bill did not require a formal fiscal note.
Procedural and timeline highlights
- 2025-03-20: Referred to the Judiciary Committee.
- 2025-03-20 to 2025-03-21: Carried over to the next special or regular session per Joint Order SP 519.
- 2025-04-01: Work session held; resulting in a Divided Report.
- 2025-06-09: Reported Out as ONTP/OTP; floor action indicates mixed committee recommendations.
- 2025-06-09: Roll Call No. 388 (Yeas 76 - Nays 68 - Absent 5 - Excused 2).
- 2025-06-10: Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD); Majority Ought Not to Pass Report accepted in concurrence.
- Final status: Dead (not enacted) as of the 132nd Legislature.
Notes for readers
- This bill represents an attempt to expand informed consent in abortion by ensuring patients are informed about perinatal hospice options, aligning with broader goals of patient information and decision-making support.
- While the intent is clear, the measure did not advance to enactment and is not in effect.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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