Bill > HB1373

This bill expands legal definitions in North Dakota law to include unborn children as human beings or persons from the moment of fertilization, affecting three different legal chapters related to criminal offenses (murder and assault) and civil actions for wrongful death. Specifically, the bill defines an "unborn child" as a living human from the moment a sperm fertilizes an egg, and extends legal protections to cover these unborn children in criminal and civil statutes. The bill includes important exceptions to prevent unintended legal consequences, such as exempting medical procedures performed under standard medical practices, life-saving medical interventions for a mother that might incidentally affect an unborn child, and spontaneous miscarriages. By creating these new definitions and exceptions, the bill aims to provide legal recognition and protection for unborn children at the earliest stage of biological development, potentially expanding legal rights and considerations for fetuses in North Dakota's legal framework.

Government Affairs

https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1373.html