# 119-s-47: Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act

119-s-47, Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] (R-MO); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2025-12-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-47
- As of: 2025-12-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-s-47
- Congress: 119
- Title: Defense of Conscience in Health Care Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2025-01-09
- Sponsor: Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO] (R-MO)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Health
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2025-12-21

## Summary

**This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to reinstate rules protecting conscience rights in health care.** It directs HHS to issue a final rule identical or materially equivalent to the July 22, 2019 regulation and to restore that rule's certification, cooperation, enforcement, and penalty provisions. - Health care providers: Would be allowed to refuse to take actions they find religiously or morally objectionable, such as providing referrals for abortions. - Federal fund recipients: Hospitals and clinics that receive federal funds could not require providers to perform services that conflict with their conscience. - HHS enforcement and timing: Would require the Secretary to issue the final rule within 6 months after enactment and to designate the HHS Office for Civil Rights to handle related complaints.

## Provisions PRIA read

- Restore conscience protections in health care: mixed, medium. If enacted, the Department of Health and Human Services would have not later than 6 months after enactment to issue a final rule. The rule must be identical or materially equivalent to the conscience rule in 45 CFR part 88 as in effect on July 22, 2019 (84 Fed. Reg. 23170). The final rule would hav…

## Related bills

- 119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act
- 119-s-1792: AI Whistleblower Protection Act
- 119-s-1381: Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2025
- 119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025
- 119-s-243: Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act
- 119-s-4509: PBM Act

## Sources
- [119-s-47 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/47)

## Related
- [119-s-1748: Kids Online Safety Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1748)
- [119-s-1792: AI Whistleblower Protection Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1792)
- [119-s-1381: Protecting Employees and Retirees in Business Bankruptcies Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-1381)
- [119-s-292: Educational Choice for Children Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-292)
- [119-s-243: Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-243)
- [119-s-4509: PBM Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-4509)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-s-47 (as of 2025-12-21).