WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HB 885

Criminal Law - Causing Ingestion of an Abortion-Inducing Drug - Prohibition (Women's Freedom From Coercion Act)

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Steve Arentz and 11 co-sponsors

HB 885 criminalizes deceiving or coercing someone into ingesting abortion-inducing medication without their consent, establishing penalties for reproductive coercion.

Hearing 2/17 at 1:00 p.m. (Judiciary)
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 885

Legislative bill overview

HB 885 would criminalize the act of coercing or deceiving someone into ingesting medication that induces abortion without their knowledge or consent. The bill creates a new criminal offense with specified penalties for anyone who intentionally causes another person to ingest an abortion-inducing drug through force, threat, or deception. This applies regardless of the pregnancy status of the person being given the substance.

Why is this important

The bill addresses a specific form of reproductive coercion—a recognized form of abuse where one person controls another's reproductive choices through deception or force. Establishing criminal penalties for this conduct creates legal recourse for victims and acknowledges reproductive autonomy as a protected interest. The practical impact depends on how broadly "abortion-inducing drug" is defined and how courts interpret consent and knowledge requirements.

Potential points of contention

  • Definitional scope: What qualifies as an "abortion-inducing drug" and whether certain medications (like those with multiple medical purposes) fall under this definition could create enforcement ambiguities
  • Mens rea standards: Questions about what level of knowledge or intent a defendant must have, and whether mistakes about whether someone was pregnant affect culpability
  • Interaction with abortion access: Concerns that broad language could inadvertently chill provision of legitimate reproductive healthcare or create liability for medical professionals in ambiguous circumstances

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

Sign in to ask a question.