Bill > HR3411

This bill, the Conscience Protection Act of 2025, aims to safeguard healthcare entities and professionals from being compelled to participate in abortion-related services against their religious, moral, or ethical beliefs. The legislation strengthens existing federal conscience protection laws by prohibiting the federal government, states, and entities receiving federal financial assistance from penalizing or discriminating against healthcare providers who decline to perform, refer for, pay for, or participate in abortion services. The bill establishes a comprehensive definition of "healthcare entity" that includes individual healthcare workers, hospitals, insurance providers, educational programs, and other healthcare-related organizations. It creates a new enforcement mechanism by empowering the Department of Health and Human Services' Office for Civil Rights to receive and investigate complaints of conscience rights violations, with the ability to terminate federal financial assistance for non-compliant entities. Additionally, the bill provides a private right of action, allowing individuals or entities adversely affected by conscience rights violations to sue in federal court and potentially receive compensatory damages and attorney's fees. The legislation draws on historical precedents, including previous federal conscience protection statutes, and responds to recent legal and administrative challenges to such protections, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that healthcare professionals can make decisions based on their personal convictions without fear of professional repercussions.

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https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3411/all-info