HR 5485
Second Chance at Life Act of 2025
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Bill overview
The Second Chance at Life Act of 2025 aims to provide women considering chemical abortions with information about the potential to reverse the effects of mifepristone if they change their minds. It mandates that abortion providers inform women about this possibility at least 24 hours before the procedure and direct them to a Department of Health and Human Services website with related information. The bill also requires facilities performing chemical abortions to post a sign outlining this potential reversal option and establishes a process for civil lawsuits against providers who violate these requirements.
Key provisions
- Requires abortion providers to inform women about the potential to reverse mifepristone-induced chemical abortion effects.
- Mandates a 24-hour notice to women before a chemical abortion.
- Directs women to a HHS website for information on reversal options.
- Requires facilities performing chemical abortions to post a specific sign.
- Establishes a process for civil lawsuits against non-compliant providers.
- Allows for attorney’s fees in successful civil lawsuits.
- Specifies that the Act does not preempt more stringent state abortion disclosure requirements.
- Defines key terms related to abortion and chemical abortions.
Who is affected
- Women seeking chemical abortions
- Abortion providers
- Physicians involved in chemical abortions
- Department of Health and Human Services
- Parents of minors undergoing chemical abortions
Notable changes
Sponsors
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Primary sponsor
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119th CONGRESS — 1st Session
H. R. 5485
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A BILL
To ensure that a woman seeking a chemical abortion is informed that it may be possible to reverse the intended effects of the abortion if the woman changes her mind, and for other purposes.
This Act may be cited as the Second Chance at Life Act of 2025
.
The Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 201 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following:
In this title:
The term abortion provider means any person licensed to perform a chemical abortion under applicable Federal and State laws.
The term unborn child means a member of the species homo sapiens, at any stage of development prior to birth.
The term woman means a female human being whether or not she has reached the age of majority.
Second Chance at Life Act of 2025
, any abortion provider in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, who knowingly performs any chemical abortion, shall comply with the requirements of this title.Except in the case of a medical emergency described in section 3403, a chemical abortion involving the two drug process of dispensing mifepristone first and then misoprostol shall not be performed or induced or attempted to be performed or induced without the following:
The woman is informed, by telephone or in person, by the physician who is to perform the chemical abortion, by a referring physician, or by an agent of either physician at least 24 hours before the chemical abortion, that—
Recent developing research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy. It may be possible to avoid, cease, or even to reverse the intended effects of a mifepristone-induced chemical abortion if the second pill has not been taken. Please consult with a health care professional immediately.
.Upon a determination by an abortion provider under subsection (a) that an abortion is necessary to save the life of a mother, such provider shall include in the medical file of the pregnant woman a truthful and accurate certification of the specific medical circumstances that support such determination.
Research has indicated that mifepristone alone is not always effective in ending a pregnancy and that its effects can be blocked or reversed if the second pill has not yet been taken. If you change your mind prior to taking the second pill and desire to attempt to save your pregnancy, consult with a health care professional immediately.
.The sign required by subsection (a) shall be printed with lettering that is—
legible; and
at least three quarters of an inch boldfaced type.
A facility in which chemical abortions are performed that is a private office or a freestanding surgical outpatient clinic shall post the sign required by subsection (a) in each patient waiting room and patient consultation room used by patients on whom chemical abortions are performed. A hospital or any other facility in which chemical abortions are performed that is not a private office or freestanding surgical outpatient clinic shall post the required sign in each patient admission area used by patients on whom chemical abortions are performed.
The Secretary shall publish, in English and in each language which is the primary language of 2 percent or more of the population of any State, and shall cause to be available on the website required by subsection (b), the following printed materials in such a way as to ensure that the information is easily comprehensible:
Materials designed to inform the woman of the possibility of reversing the effects of a chemical abortion utilizing mifepristone if she changes her mind.
Materials on the assistance and resources that may be available to help reverse the effects of a chemical abortion.
Not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of the
Second Chance at Life Act of 2025
, the Secretary shall develop and maintain a website to provide the information described in subsection (a) in accordance with the following:No information regarding who uses the website shall be collected or maintained.
The Secretary shall monitor on a regular basis the website to prevent and correct tampering.
The website shall be maintained at a minimum resolution of 70 DPI (dots per inch).
All pictures appearing on the website shall be a minimum of 200x300 pixels.
All letters on the website shall be a minimum of 12 point font.
All information and pictures on the website shall be accessible with an industry standard browser, requiring no additional plug-ins.
A person upon whom such a chemical abortion has been performed or attempted.
A plaintiff may not bring a civil action under subsection (a) if a chemical abortion is performed or attempted with respect to a pregnancy that is the result of the plaintiff’s criminal conduct.
If a party described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subsection (a) is the prevailing party in an action under this section, the court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee to such party. If a defendant is the prevailing party in an action under this section, and the court finds that such action was frivolous or brought in bad faith, the court shall award a reasonable attorney’s fee to the defendant.
Nothing in this Act or the amendment made by this Act shall be construed to preempt any provision of State law to the extent that such State law establishes, implements, or continues in effect disclosure requirements regarding abortion or penalties for failure to comply with such requirements that are more extensive than those provided under the amendment made by this Act.
If any provision of this Act, or any application thereof, is found to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act and any application thereof shall not be affected by such finding.