Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
Introduced
Summary
Bans a 'dismemberment' abortion method and sets criminal and civil penalties for providers. The bill would allow an exception to save a pregnant woman's life and spells out what counts as a dismemberment abortion, excluding certain suction-based procedures and removal of a deceased unborn child.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Federal ban on dismemberment abortions
If enacted, the bill would make it a federal crime for a physician to knowingly perform a dismemberment abortion that kills an unborn child. A convicted person could be fined under title 18, imprisoned up to 2 years, or both. The bill also defines what counts as a dismemberment abortion, who counts as a physician, and defines an "unborn child" as beginning at fertilization.
Civil damages for prohibited abortions
If enacted, a woman who had a dismemberment abortion in violation of the ban would be able to bring a civil lawsuit for relief. A parent of a minor could also sue unless the pregnancy resulted from the parent's criminal conduct. "Appropriate relief" would include verifiable physical and psychological damages, punitive damages, and statutory damages equal to three times the cost of the abortion. Courts would award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff. If the court finds a plaintiff's suit frivolous, it would award fees to the defendant; otherwise the woman on whom the abortion was performed could not be assessed damages or fees.
Patient life exception and immunity
If enacted, the ban would not apply when a dismemberment abortion is necessary to save the pregnant woman's life because of a physical disorder, illness, injury, or a pregnancy-caused condition. The bill would also bar prosecuting the woman on whom a dismemberment abortion is performed under this section, for conspiracies to violate it, or for certain related federal offenses.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Rounds, Mike [R-SD]
SD • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Hyde-Smith, Cindy [R-MS]
MS • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC]
NC • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Risch, James E. [R-ID]
ID • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Daines, Steve [R-MT]
MT • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Banks, Jim [R-IN]
IN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Lankford, James [R-OK]
OK • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Cramer, Kevin [R-ND]
ND • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Marshall, Roger [R-KS]
KS • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Hawley, Josh [R-MO]
MO • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Sen. Blackburn, Marsha [R-TN]
TN • R
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov