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H.R. 8603119th CongressIn committeeLatest action Apr 30, 2026Decoded by AI · checked against the record
Official title: Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govThe plain-language version leads. The official text is always the reference.
HR 8603 would make one specific second-trimester surgical abortion method a federal crime, exposing doctors to fines or up to two years in prison.
65-second read · 5 questions answered below
HR 8603 would add to the federal criminal code a ban on the surgical abortion procedure in which forceps or similar instruments are used to remove a fetus piece by piece, most commonly performed in the second trimester. The ban applies nationwide regardless of state law. It does not cover suction-based procedures or medication abortions, and includes an exception when the procedure is needed to save the pregnant woman's life due to a physical health emergency.
Doctors who perform this specific second-trimester surgical abortion procedure could face criminal charges and civil lawsuits. Pregnant women seeking the procedure cannot be prosecuted or sued under this bill, though their access to this particular method would be affected in every state.
A doctor found guilty could face a fine, up to two years in prison, or both. A woman on whom the procedure was performed in violation of the law, or a parent of a minor in that situation, could sue the doctor for damages including three times the cost of the procedure plus potential punitive damages.
AI-drafted summary. Verify it against the official text before you act on it. Read the official bill on Congress.gov
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the President.
Latest action: — Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.