North Carolina HB 522: Crisis Pregnancy Center Fraud Prevention Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 522

Short Title: Crisis Pregnancy Center Fraud Prevention Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representatives von Haefen, Butler, and Crawford (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
March 27, 2025
*H522-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT PROVIDING FOR GREATER ACCOUNTABILITY OF CRISIS PREGNANCY 2
CENTERS BY DEFINING AS A DECEPTIVE OR UNFAIR PRACTICE THE ACT OF 3
KNOWINGLY ADVERTISING THAT ABORTION OR EMERGENCY 4
CONTRACEPTIVE SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE WHEN THE PERSON OR ENTITY 5
PUBLISHING THE ADVERTISEMENT DOES NOT PROVIDE THOSE SERVICES; 6
AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN 7
SERVICES TO EVALUATE AND REPORT ON CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTERS 8
DOING BUSINESS IN THE STATE. 9
Whereas, in North Carolina, where people have the right to continue a pregnancy or 10
terminate a pregnancy by abortion; and 11
Whereas, pregnant individuals need honest, timely, and accurate information from 12
qualified medical professionals to make informed decisions about their health, well-being, and 13
reproductive healthcare options; and 14
Whereas, according to the American Medical Association's Journal of Ethics, 15
anti-abortion centers, also known as "crisis pregnancy centers," aim "to prevent abortions by 16
persuading people that adoption or parenting is a better option"; and 17
Whereas, anti-abortion centers are the ground-level presence of a well-coordinated 18
anti-abortion movement; and 19
Whereas, anti-abortion centers, with taxpayer dollars diverted to them, greatly 20
outnumber abortion clinics and comprehensive reproductive healthcare centers in our State; and 21
Whereas, anti-abortion centers typically advertise themselves as providers of 22
comprehensive healthcare even though most do not employ licensed medical professionals or 23
provide referrals for emergency contraception or abortion care; and 24
Whereas, low-income patients have been deprived of access to affordable and 25
comprehensive healthcare, including reproductive healthcare, for the last decade while these 26
anti-abortion centers have been receiving taxpayer dollars; and 27
Whereas, many anti-abortion centers use deceptive advertising tactics to target and 28
acquire clients from historically marginalized groups, including Black, Indigenous, and other 29
People of Color; those who live in rural areas; LGBTQ+ communities; young people; students; 30
people with lower incomes; undocumented people; and people for whom English is not their first 31
language; and 32
Whereas, some anti-abortion centers go so far as to advertise so-called "medication 33
abortion reversal," a dangerous and deceptive practice that is not supported by science or clinical 34
standards, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or by the 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 522-First Edition
United States Food and Drug Administration; and the American Medical Association states, 1
"[Physicians] do not and cannot, without misleading them, tell their patients that it may be 2
possible to reverse a medication abortion"; and 3
Whereas, time is a critical factor for individuals seeking abortion care; and no one 4
should be deceived, manipulated, or face unnecessary delays when seeking support or healthcare 5
during pregnancy, whether they plan to continue a pregnancy or terminate the pregnancy; Now, 6
therefore, 7
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 8
9
PART I. ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DECEPTIVE OR UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES 10
SECTION 1.1. Chapter 75 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new 11
section to read: 12
"§ 75-45. Deceptive representation of healthcare services offered. 13
(a) A person or entity engages in deceptive or unfair practices under this Chapter when 14
the person or entity makes or disseminates an advertisement to the public that indicates the person 15
or entity provides abortions or emergency contraceptives, or provides referrals for abortions or 16
emergency contraceptives, when the person or entity knows or reasonably should know that the 17
person or entity does not provide those services. 18
(b) The learned profession exception of G.S. 75-1.1(b) does not apply to any person or 19
entity that publishes or causes to be published an advertisement that violates subsection (a) of 20
this section, as publishing of that advertisement is a general business dealing and is not a 21
professional service of a learned profession, regardless of whether the person or entity is a 22
healthcare provider licensed under Chapter 90 of the General Statutes. 23
(c) The Attorney General shall accept complaints alleging violations of this section 24
through the North Carolina Department of Justice website. The instructions, guidance, and forms 25
for submitting a complaint for violation of this section shall be able t