S. 3650

119 S3650 IS: Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act
 U.S. Senate
 2026-01-15
 text/xml
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 II  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. 3650  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   January 15, 2026   Mrs. Moody  (for herself,  Mr. Risch ,  Mr. Lankford ,  Mr. Daines ,  Mrs. Fischer ,  Mr. Cassidy ,  Mr. Kennedy ,  Mr. Cramer , and  Mr. Ricketts ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the  Committee on the Judiciary    A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions.
1.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the   Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act  .
2.
Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion
Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 117 the following:
117A
Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion
Sec.
2431. Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion.
2432. Transportation of minors, in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion, by individuals committing incest.
2431.
Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion
(a)
Offense
(1)
Generally
Except as provided in subsection (b), whoever knowingly transports a minor across a State line, with the intent that such minor obtain an abortion, and thereby in fact abridges the right of a parent under a law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision, in force in the State in which the minor resides, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(2)
Definition
For the purposes of this subsection, an abridgement of the right of a parent under a law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision occurs if an abortion is performed or induced on the minor, in a State other than the State in which the minor resides or in a foreign country, without the parental consent or notification, or the judicial authorization, that would have been required by that law had the abortion been performed in the State in which the minor resides.
(b)
Exceptions
(1)
Life-endangering conditions
The prohibition under subsection (a) shall not apply if the abortion is necessary to save the life of the minor because her life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.
(2)
Minors and parents
A minor transported in violation of this section, and any parent of that minor, may not be prosecuted or sued for a violation of this section, a conspiracy to violate this section, or an offense under section 2 or 3 of this title based on a violation of this section.
(c)
Affirmative Defense
It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution for an offense, or to a civil action, based on a violation of this section that the defendant—
(1)
reasonably believed, based on information the defendant obtained directly from a parent of the minor, that before the minor obtained the abortion, the parental consent or notification took place that would have been required by the law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision, had the abortion been performed in the State in which the minor resides; or
(2)
was presented with documentation showing with a reasonable degree of certainty that a court in the minor’s State of residence waived any parental notification required by the laws of that State, or otherwise authorized that the minor be allowed to procure an abortion.
(d)
Civil Action
Any parent who suffers harm from a violation of subsection (a) may obtain appropriate relief in a civil action unless the parent has committed an act of incest with the minor described in subsection (a).
(e)
Definitions
For the purposes of this section—
(1)
the term  abortion  means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device to intentionally—
(A)
kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or
(B)
prematurely terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than to—
(i)
increase the probability of a live birth or of preserving the life or health of the child after live birth; or
(ii)
remove a dead unborn child;
(2)
the term  law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision  means a law—
(A)
requiring, before an abortion is performed on a minor, either—
(i)
the notification to, or consent of, a parent of that minor; or
(ii)
proceedings in a State court; and
(B)
that does not provide as an alternative to the requirements described in subparagraph (A) notification to or consent of any person or entity who is not described in that subparagraph;
(3)
the term  minor  means an individual who is not older than the maximum age requiring parental notification or consent, or proceedings in a State court, under the law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision;
(4)
the term  parent  means—
(A)
a parent or guardian;
(B)
a legal custodian; or
(C)
an individual standing in loco parentis—
(i)
who has care and control of the minor;
(ii)
with whom the minor regularly resides; and
(iii)
who is designated by the law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision as an individual to whom notification, or from whom consent, is required; and
(5)
the term  State  includes—
(A)
the District of Columbia;
(B)
any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the United States; and
(C)
any Indian Tribe or reservation.
2432.
Transportation of minors, in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion, by individuals committing incest
(a)
Offense
Notwithstanding section 2431(b)(2), whoever has committed an act of incest with a minor and knowingly transports the minor across a State line with the intent that such minor obtain an abortion, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(b)
Definitions
For the purposes of this section, the terms  abortion ,  minor , and  State  have the meanings given those terms in section 2435.
  .
3.
Child interstate abortion notification
Part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after chapter 117A (as added by section 2) the following:
117B
Child interstate abortion notification
Sec.
2435. Child interstate abortion notification.
2435.
Child interstate abortion notification
(a)
Offense
(1)
Generally
A physician who knowingly performs or induces an abortion on a minor in violation of the requirement under paragraph (2) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
(2)
Parental notification
(A)
Actual notice
A physician who performs or induces an abortion on a minor who is a resident of a State other than the State in which the abortion is performed or induced shall provide, or cause his or her agent to provide, not less than 24 hours actual notice to a parent of the minor before performing or inducing the abortion.
(B)
Constructive notice
If actual notice to a parent under subparagraph (A) is not accomplished after a reasonable effort has been made, not less than 24 hours constructive notice shall be given to a parent before the abortion is performed or induced.
(b)
Exceptions
The notification requirement under subsection (a)(2) shall not apply if—
(1)
the abortion is performed or induced in a State that has in force a law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision and the physician complies with the requirements of that law;
(2)
the physician is presented with documentation showing with a reasonable degree of certainty that a court in the minor’s State of residence has waived any parental notification required by the laws of that State, or has otherwise authorized that the minor be allowed to procure an abortion;
(3)
the minor declares in a signed written statement that she is the victim of sexual abuse, neglect, or physical abuse by a parent, and, before an abortion is performed or induced on the minor, the physician notifies the authorities specified to receive reports of child abuse or neglect by the law of the State in which the minor resides of the known or suspected abuse or neglect;
(4)
the abortion is necessary to save the life of the minor because her life was endangered by a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness, including a life endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself, except that an exception under this paragraph shall not apply unless the attending physician or an agent of such physician, not later than 24 hours after completion of the abortion, notifies a parent in writing that an abortion was performed or induced, as applicable, on the minor and of the circumstances that warranted invocation of this paragraph; or
(5)
the minor is physically accompanied by a person who presents the physician or his or her agent with documentation showing with a reasonable degree of certainty that he or she is in fact the parent of that minor.
(c)
Civil Action
Any parent who suffers harm from a violation of subsection (a) may obtain appropriate relief in a civil action unless the parent has committed an act of incest with the minor described in subsection (a).
(d)
Definitions
For the purposes of this section—
(1)
the term  abortion  means the use or prescription of any instrument, medicine, drug, or other substance or device to intentionally—
(A)
kill the unborn child of a woman known to be pregnant; or
(B)
prematurely terminate the pregnancy of a woman known to be pregnant, with an intention other than to—
(i)
increase the probability of a live birth or of preserving the life or health of the child after live birth; or
(ii)
remove a dead unborn child;
(2)
the term  actual notice  means the giving of written notice directly, in person, by the physician or any agent of the physician;
(3)
the term  constructive notice  means notice that is given by certified mail, return receipt requested, restricted delivery to the last known address of the person being notified, with delivery deemed to have occurred 48 hours following noon on the next day subsequent to mailing on which regular mail delivery takes place, excluding days on which mail is not delivered;
(4)
the term  law requiring parental involvement in a minor’s abortion decision  means a law—
(A)
requiring, before an abortion is performed on a minor, either—
(i)
the notification to, or consent of, a parent of that minor; or
(ii)
proceedings in a State court; and
(B)
that does not provide as an alternative to the requirements described in subparagraph (A) notification to or consent of any person or entity who is not described in that subparagraph;
(5)
the term  minor  means an individual who—
(A)
has not attained the age of 18 years; and
(B)
is not emancipated under the law of the State in which the individual resides;
(6)
the term  parent  means—
(A)
a parent or guardian;
(B)
a legal custodian; or
(C)
an individual standing in loco parentis—
(i)
who has care and control of the minor; and
(ii)
with whom the minor regularly resides,
 as determined by State law;
(7)
the term  physician  means—
(A)
a doctor of medicine legally authorized to practice medicine by the State in which such doctor practices medicine; or
(B)
any other person legally empowered under State law to perform an abortion; and
(8)
the term  State  includes—
(A)
the District of Columbia;
(B)
any commonwealth, possession, or other territory of the United States; and
(C)
any Indian Tribe or reservation.
  .
4.
Clerical amendment
The table of chapters at the beginning of part I of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after the item relating to chapter 117 the following new items:
    117A.  Transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion  2431    117B.  Child interstate abortion notification  2435    .
5.
Severability and effective date
(a)
Severability
The provisions of this Act shall be severable. If any provision of or amendment made by this Act, or any application thereof, is found unconstitutional, that finding shall not affect any provision or amendment, or any application thereof, not so adjudicated.
(b)
Effective date
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect 45 days after the date of enactment of this Act.