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HB 3410

Establishes and modifies provisions relating to the definition of abortion

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Becky Laubinger

HB 3410 refines Missouri abortion definitions and carve-outs, clarifying when acts are not abortions and aligning terms for providers, facilities, and enforcement.

Referred: Children and Families(H)
#abortion #childrenandminors
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Bill Summary · HB 3410

Summary of HB 3410 (Missouri, 2026 Session)

Purpose and intent

  • HB 3410 repeals two current statutory provisions and enacts two new sections to redefine and clarify the term “abortion” and related concepts.
  • The bill aims to codify specific definitions around abortion, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, viability, and related terms, and to delineate when certain procedures are or are not considered abortions.

Key provisions and changes

Redefined terms (Section 1.020)

  • Introduces explicit definitions for:
    • “Abortion”
    • “Ectopic pregnancy”
    • “Miscarriage” or “spontaneous abortion”
    • “Pregnant” or “pregnancy”
    • “Pre-viability separation procedure”
    • “Stillbirth” or “intrauterine fetal demise”
  • Provides a detailed framework for when an act would not be considered an abortion:
    • To save the life or preserve the health of the unborn child
    • To remove a dead unborn child caused by miscarriage
    • To remove an ectopic pregnancy
    • To perform a pre-viability separation procedure when necessary to save the life of the pregnant woman or to prevent substantial or irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function
  • Defines technical terms related to abortion, such as gestational age, viability, stillbirth, and pre-viability separation procedures.
  • Adds precise definitions for procedures and terms to assist interpretation (e.g., “pre-viability separation procedure” based on physician judgment and available technology).

Expanded definitions (Section 188.015)

  • Mirrors and expands the definitions section for abortion and related terms, ensuring consistency across statutes.
  • Adds and clarifies:
    • “Abortion” (with the same non-abortion carve-outs as in 1.020)
    • “Abortion facility”
    • “Affiliate” (relationship criteria with an abortion facility, including ownership, management, franchise, or brand use)
    • Definitions of other relevant terms: conception, department, gestational age, medical emergency, physician, reasonable medical judgment, unborn child, viability, viable pregnancy

Who or what is affected

  • Abortion facilities, physicians, and health care providers engaged in procedures related to abortion or pregnancies will be affected by the clarified definitions.
  • The bill’s “not an abortion” carve-outs affect when certain acts are classified as abortions, potentially affecting regulatory, reporting, and prosecutorial considerations.
  • The concept of “affiliate” creates potential regulatory and operational implications for entities related to abortion facilities through ownership, control, or branding relationships.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Status: Referred to the House Committee on Children and Families (H) as of 2026-04-23.
  • Chronology:
    • Introduced and read first time: 2026-02-24
    • Read second time: 2026-02-25
    • Referred to Children and Families (H): 2026-04-23
  • The bill repeals existing statute sections (1.020 and 188.015) and replaces them with updated language, suggesting a direct statutory rewrite rather than incremental amendments.

Practical impact and considerations

  • By tightening and aligning definitions, the bill seeks to reduce ambiguity around what constitutes “abortion” and related concepts.
  • The explicit non-abortion exceptions (e.g., saving the life/health of the unborn child or preserving life in certain situations) reinforce existing medical decision-making exceptions, but they are codified with precise language.
  • Clinicians and facilities may need to review policies and consent forms to align with the new definitions and carve-outs.
  • Law enforcement and prosecutors could rely on these definitions to determine how acts are categorized under Missouri law.

Note: This summary reflects the bill’s text and stated definitions. For a full understanding, review the bill’s final enacted language and any associated fiscal notes, committee reports, and statutory cross-references once available.

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

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