Establishes the "Respect People's Abortion Decisions Act"

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Emily Weber

Missouri HB 2483 would explicitly protect a pregnant person’s right to terminate a pregnancy and bar prosecutions for acts authorized under the bill.

Referred: Emerging Issues(H)

#abortion #healthcare

Overview

Missouri House Bill 2483, introduced in the 2026 session as the “Respect People’s Abortion Decisions Act,” would redefine abortion-related terms, affirm a state-protected right to terminate a pregnancy, and limit state actions against acts authorized under the bill. The measure emphasizes protecting a pregnant person’s decision to terminate a pregnancy and restricts state prosecution for such acts.

Main purpose and intent

Establish a statutory framework that explicitly protects a pregnant person’s right to terminate a pregnancy.

Reframe the definition of abortion and related terms to support broader interpretation of permissible abortion-related medical treatment.

Limit or preclude state criminal or other prosecutions for acts that are authorized or permitted under the section.

Key provisions and changes

Repeal and replace Section 188.015, establishing new definitions:

“Abortion” is defined as any medical treatment intended to terminate a pregnancy, except when the purpose is to produce a live birth.
“Abortion facility,” “affiliate,” and related terms are defined to regulate the relationships and settings where abortions occur or are marketed.
Conception, gestational age, medical emergency, physician, reasonable medical judgment, and other terms are defined to guide medical determinations.
The bill deletes the prior definition of “unborn child.”
The term “viability” is revised to focus on the point when, in the good faith medical judgment of a physician (or case specifics), there is a reasonable likelihood of the fetus’s sustained survival outside the uterus without extraordinary medical measures.

Reaffirmation of the state’s protection of a person’s right to terminate a pregnancy:

The state must protect a person’s right to terminate a pregnancy, notwithstanding other laws.

Immunity from prosecution:

No state criminal or other prosecution or proceeding may be brought for acts that are authorized or permitted under this section.

Severability:

If any provision is invalid or preempted by federal law, the remainder remains in effect.

Who/what is affected

Pregnant individuals seeking abortion care in Missouri.

Medical professionals (physicians) and facilities that provide abortion services, including designated abortion facilities and affiliated entities.

Entities that might operate clinics or affiliations under the definitions (e.g., affiliates with branding or licenses related to abortion services).

State enforcement and prosecutions, subject to the new protections and definitions.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Referred to Emerging Issues (H) for consideration.

Previous readings indicate standard legislative process: first reading, second reading, and committee referral timeline in 2026.

If enacted, the new provisions would operate as the controlling law for definitions and protections related to abortion decisions in Missouri.

Notable details

The bill mirrors concepts from a prior measure (HB 581, 2025) and similar proposals aiming to expand protections around abortion decisions.

The explicit removal of the prior “unborn child” definition and the redefinition of “viability” place emphasis on physician judgment and case-specific considerations in determining whether an abortion would be medically indicated or permissible.

If you’d like, I can provide a side-by-side comparison with existing Missouri law or summarize potential practical implications for clinics, patients, and medical practitioners.