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S 446 117th Congress Senate Crime and Law Enforcement Abortion Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation Family planning and birth control Federal officials Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management Government liability Health programs administration and funding Medical ethics Public contracts and procurement

Informed Consent Act

Introduced: February 25, 2021 Introduced by: Ernst, Joni Republican · Iowa See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 25, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 25, 2021
Introduced in Senate
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Informed Consent Act

This bill establishes new federal criminal offenses related to the performance of abortions and sterilization procedures.

First, the bill prohibits knowingly performing an abortion or sterilization procedure without obtaining informed consent. It provides exceptions, including for an abortion or sterilization procedure that is necessary to save a mother whose life is endangered by a physical (but not psychological or emotional) disorder, illness, or condition.

An individual who performs a prohibited abortion or sterilization procedure is subject to criminal penalties—a fine, a prison term of up to 10 years, or both.

Second, the bill requires federal employees and contractors, as well as employees and contractors of certain federally funded entities, who know about a prohibited abortion or sterilization procedure to report it as soon as possible. An individual who knows about a prohibited abortion or sterilization procedure but fails to report it is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to three years, or both.

What's happening now February 25, 2021

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • HR 1382 Identical bill Informed Consent Act
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Republican 4
R
Cramer, Kevin
North Dakota · Feb 25, 2021
 R
Hyde-Smith, Cindy
Mississippi · Feb 25, 2021
 R
Marshall, Roger
Kansas · Feb 25, 2021
 R
Tillis, Thomas
North Carolina · Feb 25, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 446: Informed Consent Act. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-446/
MLA
"S. 446: Informed Consent Act." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-446/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 446, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-446/.
Markdown link
[S. 446: Informed Consent Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-446/)
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