Pennsylvania HB 1957: A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, providing for personal reproductive liberty.

Bill Text

PRIOR PASSAGE - NONE
PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 2468 PRINTER'S NO. 2711
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1957
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY OTTEN, HANBIDGE, MAYES, HILL-EVANS, VENKAT,
WAXMAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, GUENST, BOROWSKI, GIRAL, PIELLI,
PROBST, KHAN, HOWARD, SCHWEYER, KINKEAD, SANCHEZ, HOHENSTEIN,
SCHLOSSBERG, MALAGARI, D. WILLIAMS, STEELE, SHUSTERMAN,
DEASY, O'MARA, GREEN, DALEY, BOYD, BRIGGS, CURRY, MARKOSEK,
RIVERA AND MADSEN, OCTOBER 16, 2025
AS AMENDED ON SECOND CONSIDERATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
DECEMBER 16, 2025
A JOINT RESOLUTION
Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, providing for personal reproductive liberty.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby resolves as follows:
Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of
Pennsylvania is proposed in accordance with Article XI:
That Article I be amended by adding a section to read:
§ 30. Personal reproductive liberty.
(A) Every individual has the fundamental right to exercise
personal reproductive liberty and make and effectuate decisions
regarding the individual's own reproduction, including the
ability to choose or refuse to prevent, continue or end the
individual's pregnancy, the right to choose or refuse
contraceptives and the right to choose or refuse fertility care,
all without discrimination on the basis of race, age,
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disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion
or relationship status. The Commonwealth may not deny, burden,
infringe upon or abridge this right unless justified by a
compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive
means.
(B) NOTWITHSTANDING SUBSECTION (A), THE COMMONWEALTH MAY
REGULATE THE PROVISION OF ABORTION CARE AFTER FETAL VIABILITY,
EXCEPT THAT IN NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL THE COMMONWEALTH PROHIBIT
AN ABORTION THAT, IN THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT OF AN ATTENDING
HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL, IS MEDICALLY INDICATED TO PROTECT THE
LIFE OR PHYSICAL OR MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PREGNANT INDIVIDUAL.
(C) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, THE TERM "FETAL VIABILITY"
MEANS THE POINT IN PREGNANCY WHEN, IN THE PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT
OF AN ATTENDING HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL AND BASED ON THE
PARTICULAR FACTS OF THE CASE, THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LIKELIHOOD
OF THE FETUS'S SUSTAINED SURVIVAL OUTSIDE THE UTERUS WITHOUT THE
APPLICATION OF EXTRAORDINARY MEDICAL MEASURES.
Section 2. The following procedure applies to the proposed
constitutional amendment in this joint resolution:
(1) Upon the first passage by the General Assembly of
the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania.
(2) Upon the second passage by the General Assembly of
the amendment, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
proceed immediately to comply with the advertising
requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the Constitution
of Pennsylvania. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall
submit the amendment to the qualified electors of this
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Commonwealth at the first general or municipal election which
meets the requirements of section 1 of Article XI of the
Constitution of Pennsylvania.
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