HB531 — Abortion; born alive infant, treatment and care, penalty.

Summary

Abortion; born alive infant, treatment and care, penalty.

Bill Text

Compared against the Code of Virginia as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

This bill amends 3 section(s) of the Code of Virginia: 18.2-76.3, 32.1-127, 54.1-2915.

• 18.2-76.3

  A. Every

  Inserts “A. Every”.

• 18.2-76.3

  health care

  Inserts “health care”.

• 18.2-76.3

  provider

  Inserts “provider”.

• 18.2-76.3

  licensed by the Board of Medicine who attempts or assists in the attempt to perform an abortion or cause a miscarriage for the purpose of terminating a pregnancy and who is present at the time such abortion is attempted or such miscarriage is attempted to be caused shall, in the case of a

  Inserts “licensed by the Board of Medicine who attempts or assists in the attempt to perform an abortion or cause a miscarriage for the purpose of terminating a pregnancy and who is present at the time such abortion is attempted or such miscarriage is attempted to be caused shall, in the case of a”.

• 18.2-76.3

  human

  Inserts “human”.

• 18.2-76.3

  infant who has been born alive, as defined in § 18.2-71.1, following performance of such attempted abortion or causing of a miscarriage, (i) exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the

  Inserts “infant who has been born alive, as defined in § 18.2-71.1, following performance of such attempted abortion or causing of a miscarriage, (i) exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the”.

• 18.2-76.3

  human

  Inserts “human”.

• 18.2-76.3

  infant who has been born alive as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age and (ii) take all reasonable steps to ensure the immediate transfer of the

  Inserts “infant who has been born alive as a reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age and (ii) take all reasonable steps to ensure the immediate transfer of the”.

• 18.2-76.3

  human

  Inserts “human”.

• 18.2-76.3

  infant who has been born alive to a hospital for further medical care.

  Inserts “infant who has been born alive to a hospital for further medical care.”.

• 18.2-76.3

  B.

  Inserts “B.”.

• 18.2-76.3

  Any

  Inserts “Any”.

• 18.2-76.3

  health care

  Inserts “health care”.

• 18.2-76.3

  provider licensed by the Board of Medicine who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection A is guilty of a Class 4 felony.

  Inserts “provider licensed by the Board of Medicine who fails to comply with the provisions of subsection A is guilty of a Class 4 felony.”.

• 18.2-76.3

  C

  Inserts “C”.

• 18.2-76.3

  . The mother of a

  Inserts “. The mother of a”.

• 18.2-76.3

  human

  Inserts “human”.

• 18.2-76.3

  infant who has been born alive shall not be subject to prosecution for any criminal offense pursuant to this section.

  Inserts “infant who has been born alive shall not be subject to prosecution for any criminal offense pursuant to this section.”.

• 32.1-127

  and

  Strikes “and”.

• 32.1-127

  ; and

  Inserts “; and”.

• 32.1-127

  34. Shall require every hospital to establish a protocol for (i) the treatment and care of a human infant who has been born alive, as that term is defined in § 18.2-71.1, and (ii) requiring the immediate reporting to law enforcement of any failure of any health care provider required to provide treatment and care to a human infant who has been born alive in accordance with the provisions of clause (i) or § 18.2-76.3

  Inserts “34. Shall require every hospital to establish a protocol for (i) the treatment and care of a human infant who has been born alive, as that term is defined in § 18.2-71.1, and (ii) requiring the immediate reporting to law enforcement of any failure of any health care provider required to provide treatment and care to a human infant who has been born alive in accordance with the provisions of clause (i) or § 18.2-76.3”.

• 32.1-127

  and

  Strikes “and”.

• 32.1-127

  ; and

  Inserts “; and”.

• 32.1-127

  35

  Inserts “35”.

• 32.1-127

  . Shall require every hospital to establish a protocol for (i) the treatment and care of a human infant who has been born alive, as that term is defined in § 18.2-71.1, and (ii) requiring the immediate reporting to law enforcement of any failure of any health care provider required to provide treatment and care to a human infant who has been born alive in accordance with the provisions of clause (i) or § 18.2-76.3

  Inserts “. Shall require every hospital to establish a protocol for (i) the treatment and care of a human infant who has been born alive, as that term is defined in § 18.2-71.1, and (ii) requiring the immediate reporting to law enforcement of any failure of any health care provider required to provide treatment and care to a human infant who has been born alive in accordance with the provisions of clause (i) or § 18.2-76.3”.

• 54.1-2915

  or

  Strikes “or”.

• 54.1-2915

  ; or

  Inserts “; or”.

• 54.1-2915

  25. Failing to comply with the requirements of § 18.2-76.3

  Inserts “25. Failing to comply with the requirements of § 18.2-76.3”.

Action History

1. February 18, 2026

   H Left in Health and Human Services

2. February 03, 2026

   H Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (7-Y 3-N)

3. February 02, 2026

   H Placed on Health and Human Services Agenda

4. January 21, 2026

   H Assigned sub: Health

5. January 13, 2026

   H Referred to Committee on Health and Human Services

6. January 13, 2026

   H Fiscal Impact statement From VCSC (1/13/2026 1:17 pm)

7. January 13, 2026

   H Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26102672D

Sponsors

• Karen Hamilton · Primary

Votes

Subjects