Mike Rounds (R-SD)
Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026
A Republican bill with 10 Republican cosponsors · See all 10 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
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 Dismemberment Abortion Ban Act of 2026 aims to amend title 18 of the United States Code to prohibit dismemberment abortions. Under this bill, any physician who performs a dismemberment abortion that kills an unborn child faces fines or imprisonment for up to 2 years. The act provides an exception if the procedure is necessary to save the life of a mother due to physical disorders, illness, or injury. It also establishes civil remedies for women and parents of minors who experience these prohibited procedures. Additionally, the bill specifies that women undergoing these procedures cannot be prosecuted.
Yes
- Scored +5
Would children be better off under this?
The bill seeks to protect unborn children from dismemberment procedures.
- Scored +2
Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts?
The bill provides civil remedies and statutory damages for women who undergo prohibited procedures.
The opposite· 3 of 5
- Scored -5
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
The bill restricts specific medical procedures, which may limit healthcare options for women.
- Scored -4
Would women be better off under this?
The bill restricts a specific medical procedure available to women and creates potential legal liabilities for physicians.
- Scored -3
Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated?
The bill restricts a specific method of abortion access available to women.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Life-saving exception for mothers: The bill provides an exception for abortions necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by physical disorders, illnesses, or injuries, including those caused by pregnancy (Section 2(a)(2)).
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Legal protection for women: A woman upon whom a dismemberment abortion is performed is granted immunity from prosecution under this section or related offenses (Section 2(d)).
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Civil recourse for victims: Women and parents of minors may bring civil actions to obtain relief, including money damages for physical or psychological injuries, statutory damages, and punitive damages (Section 2(c)(1)-(3)).
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Protection of existing abortion access for other methods: The bill clarifies that it does not limit abortions performed by methods other than dismemberment, including those resulting from rape or incest (Section 2(b)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Criminal penalties for physicians: Physicians who perform a dismemberment abortion that kills an unborn child may be subject to fines or imprisonment for up to 2 years (Section 2(a)(1)).
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Financial burden of civil litigation: While providing recourse, the bill allows for the recovery of attorney's fees, and if a defendant prevails because a suit was found to be frivolous, the court may award attorney's fees against the plaintiff (Section 2(c)(4)-(5)).
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Legal restrictions on specific medical procedures: Physicians are prohibited from performing procedures that involve dismembering an unborn child with the purpose of causing death and extracting it piece by piece or intact through specific instruments (Section 2(e)(2)(A)).
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.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — The bill restricts specific medical procedures, which may limit healthcare options for women.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this narrow the gap between how men and women are treated? — The bill restricts a specific method of abortion access available to women.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill seeks to protect unborn children from dismemberment procedures. Would women be better off under this? — The bill restricts a specific medical procedure available to women and creates potential legal liabilities for physicians. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Legal complexities and potential restrictions on medical procedures may disproportionately affect those with fewer resources.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect the right to fair treatment by the courts? — The bill provides civil remedies and statutory damages for women who undergo prohibited procedures. Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill's focus on prohibiting specific procedures may involve increased legal scrutiny of medical practices.
- 6/24/2026
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 10 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Marsha BlackburnRepublican · Tennessee
Jim BanksRepublican · Indiana
Ted BuddRepublican · North Carolina
Kevin CramerRepublican · North Dakota
Steve DainesRepublican · Montana
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublican · Mississippi
Josh HawleyRepublican · Missouri
James LankfordRepublican · Oklahoma
Roger MarshallRepublican · Kansas
James RischRepublican · Idaho