Bill > HB1740

This bill modifies Pennsylvania's abortion laws by introducing new restrictions based on fetal heartbeat detection. The legislation defines a fetal heartbeat as a key medical predictor of potential live birth, requiring physicians to conduct a physical examination to determine the presence of cardiac activity before performing an abortion. If a fetal heartbeat is detected, the bill generally prohibits performing an abortion, with limited exceptions. These exceptions include cases where a physician determines in their best clinical judgment that the abortion is necessary, or when another physician certifies its medical necessity. The bill changes existing language from previous gestational age restrictions (24 weeks) to a fetal heartbeat standard, effectively creating a much earlier prohibition on abortions. Physicians performing abortions will be required to report specific details about the procedure to the state department, maintaining patient anonymity while providing data for medical and public health research. The new law will take effect 60 days after its passage, signaling a significant tightening of abortion access in Pennsylvania by introducing the fetal heartbeat criteria as the primary legal threshold for abortion restrictions.

Justice

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/billinfo/bill_history.cfm?syear=2025&sind=0&body=H&type=B&bn=1740