We are proud to announce great victories following the 2025 Legislative Session! Want to support our work at the Capitol? Become a member of our new Capitol Club!
The Justice for Victims of Abortion Drug Dealers Act (HB 575) empowers Louisiana citizens harmed by abortion to file lawsuits against abortion drug dealers who unlawfully sell abortion services to anyone with the financial means, including predators and abusers. The proposed legislation makes clear that those involved in providing abortion pills, from manufacturers to street dealers, can be held civilly liable for the damage they cause.
HB 575 also gives the right of action certain close family members who are harmed by abortion pills, imposes statutory and exemplary damages upon the worst offenders and clarifies that Louisiana courts have jurisdiction over out-of-state actors so that these wrongdoers cannot take advantage of procedural loopholes to avoid liability. The legislation is authored by Rep. Lauren Ventrella and Rep. Julie Emerson.
The Stop Coerced Abortion Act (HB 425) broadens the current definition of coercion in RS: 87:6 to encompass tactics often employed by abusers, like control or intimidation, that force a woman to undergo an abortion against her will. The casual manner in which abortion pills are sold online increases the risk of coerced abortion by positioning women and girls in precarious situations with members of their own family or intimate partners.
While coerced abortion involving physical force is prohibited in Louisiana, there are other equally coercive actions that lead to the abortion decision. A perpetrator should not escape consequences simply because physical force is not yet apparent. At minimum, Louisiana law prohibiting coerced abortion should be modified to account for the ways abusers use force, control, and/or intimidation to compel a woman to abort her child.
Louisiana Right to Life again secured $4 million dollars allocated from the State’s budget that directly supports pregnant and parenting mothers in need and their babies through the life-saving work of pregnancy resource centers!
Finally, but perhaps most importantly, we defeated every attempt made to weaken Louisiana’s pro-life protections for the unborn.
Due to state funding, our Signs of Hope bill did not make it through the process. We hope to bring it back up in the future! The Signs of Hope Act (HB 478) raises awareness in school health clinics among college and high school students about the public and private assistance available to pregnant and parenting mothers and their children. Louisiana has an abundance of resources available to pregnant and parenting mothers and children. We want expecting mothers to know about these tremendous resources that can assist them and their baby. The 2025 Signs of Hope Act publicizes the availability of these resources at student health clinics on public high school and college campuses.
