Pregnant Women in Custody Act
Sponsored By: Representative Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
Introduced
Summary
Protects pregnant people in custody by banning restraints and isolation and requiring pregnancy care, bonding supports, and better data across federal detention and shelter systems. This bill would set health, housing, and support standards for pregnant and postpartum people in Bureau of Prisons, Department of Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services custody and shelters.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
BOP high-risk pregnancy transfers
If enacted, the bill would require the Bureau of Prisons to evaluate each pregnant inmate for a high-risk pregnancy. If a health care professional finds the pregnancy high-risk and the woman agrees, she could be moved to a Residential Reentry Center that can provide pregnancy and postpartum care. Travel must be by a mode a health care professional says is safe, transfers should be near family when practicable, and time in the reentry center would count toward the sentence. The bill would let people sue the BOP Director for violations and would require the BOP to publish annual data on pregnancy-related grievance claims and resolution times.
Ban on shackling for pregnant detainees
If enacted, the bill would prohibit shackling and holding a pregnant person in restrictive housing while in CBP, ICE, or ORR custody from the date a health care professional confirms pregnancy until at least 12 weeks after delivery. The bill would ban solitary confinement in the third trimester. A narrow, temporary exception would allow restraints or restrictive housing only after a written individualized finding of an immediate serious risk, with daily review, a plan to move to less restrictive housing, and a required written report within 30 days. The bill would also require DHS and HHS to create reporting processes within 180 days, protect staff and detainees from retaliation for reports, and let injured people sue DHS or HHS in federal court for damages or injunctive relief.
Training and oversight for custody
If enacted, the bill would require training and education rules about pregnancy, labor, and postpartum care for BOP officers, U.S. Marshals, and employees of covered detention facilities. BOP must give initial officer training within 180 days and then twice a year; new hires must be trained within 30 days after the 180-day start date. DHS and HHS must issue education guidelines within 90 days, and US Marshals training rules begin 180 days after enactment with new deputies trained within 30 days of appointment. The bill would also direct the GAO to study state and local policies on pregnancy care and would specify how PAYGO budget effects are determined for this bill.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Cosponsors
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Simon
CA • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Davis (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Sewell
AL • D
Sponsored 5/7/2026
Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Jackson (IL)
IL • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Espaillat
NY • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Menefee, Christian D. [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 5/13/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov