A Democratic bill with 1 Democratic cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The SAFER Health Act of 2026 aims to protect the privacy of individuals regarding information related to pregnancy termination or loss. It prohibits covered entities or their business associates from disclosing this specific information in various legal proceedings without valid individual authorization. The bill includes specific exceptions for professional liability defense and investigating physical harm when an individual is unable to consent. Additionally, it directs the Secretary to revise regulations regarding information blocking and requires health IT developers to implement data segregation practices. This Act also preempts state laws that conflict with these privacy protections, unless the state law offers even greater privacy.
Yes· 3 of 7
- Scored +9
Does this protect people from being watched or searched?
The act significantly expands privacy protections by prohibiting the disclosure of sensitive pregnancy termination or loss information in many legal contexts without explicit consent.
- Scored +9
Does this give people more control over their personal data?
The bill mandates specific data segregation practices for health IT developers to ensure highly sensitive reproductive information remains private.
- Scored +8
Would women be better off under this?
The bill provides critical privacy safeguards for sensitive medical information related to pregnancy termination and loss, which primarily impacts women.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Privacy Protection in Legal Proceedings: Under Section 2(a)(1), the bill prohibits the disclosure of pregnancy termination or loss information in Federal, State, local, or Tribal proceedings without valid authorization. This ensures that sensitive information regarding abortions, miscarriages, stillbirths, or ectopic pregnancies remains private unless the individual consents.
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Data Security through Segregation: Section 2(b)(1) requires health IT developers to implement practices that allow for the segregation of data relating to pregnancy termination or loss information. This technical requirement is designed to ensure compliance with the new privacy mandates.
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Protection Against Information Blocking Claims: Section 2(b)(1) clarifies that if an entity refuses to fulfill a request to access or exchange electronic health information to comply with these privacy rules, it will not be considered information blocking.
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Prevention of Conflicting State Laws: Section 2(c)(1)(A) establishes that this Act preempts any State law that conflicts with or prevents the application of these privacy protections, ensuring a consistent standard.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limitations on Information Disclosure for Legal Defense: Under Section 2(a)(2)(A), the privacy protections do not apply if the information is necessary for a covered entity or business associate to defend themselves in a professional liability action. This allows certain information to be shared with attorneys or insurers.
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Limitations on Information Disclosure for Investigations: Under Section 2(a)(2)(B), the privacy protections do not apply if the information is necessary to investigate physical harm caused by another person, provided the individual is unable to give consent due to death or incapacity.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The act significantly expands privacy protections by prohibiting the disclosure of sensitive pregnancy termination or loss information in many legal contexts without explicit consent. Does this give the federal government more power? — The bill uses federal preemption to ensure a uniform national standard for reproductive data privacy regardless of conflicting state laws.
- Healthcare
- Does this make abortion easier to get? — The bill protects the privacy of pregnancy termination information, which can facilitate more secure access to abortion care by preventing unauthorized disclosure in legal proceedings. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By increasing privacy protections for sensitive reproductive health data, the bill may encourage individuals to seek necessary medical care without fear of legal exposure.
- Education And Technology
- Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates specific data segregation practices for health IT developers to ensure highly sensitive reproductive information remains private.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill provides critical privacy safeguards for sensitive medical information related to pregnancy termination and loss, which primarily impacts women.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The privacy protections specifically target reproductive health information that disproportionately affects women's privacy and autonomy.
- 6/25/2026
- Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
2 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Jennifer McClellanDemocrat · Virginia