A bill for an act relating to protections for medical practitioners and health care institutions, including those related to the exercise of conscience, whistleblower activities, and free speech, and providing penalties.
HF 571, the "Medical Ethics Defense Act," protects medical practitioners, healthcare institutions, and health care payors from discrimination when refusing to provide or cover specific services based on conscience (e.g., religious or ethical beliefs). It prohibits adverse actions like termination or penalties for such refusals, requires health care payors to cover services they’re contractually obligated to pay for, and grants immunity from liability for good-faith conscience-based decisions. The bill also shields whistleblowers who report violations related to conscience protections or ethical violations to authorities like the attorney general or federal agencies. It explicitly does not override requirements for emergency care under federal law.
Bill status
signed
all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Feb 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Signed into Law
May 2026
Introduced Feb 24, 2025
Signed May 19, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 4 comparisons
What changed between versions
Enrolled with Governor's Action
→
Reprinted
·
5 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reprinted to include a new definition of 'health care payor,' expanding protections to insurance companies and employers who pay for care. Additionally, the conscience exception was broadened to explicitly cover health care payors, ensuring they can also refuse to fund specific services based on their beliefs.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded from protecting only medical practitioners and health care institutions to also include health care payors (such as insurance companies and self-insured employers).
DEFINITION
Added the definition of 'health care payor' to include employers, health plans, and entities that pay for health care services.
Updated the definition of 'discrimination' to explicitly include health care payors alongside practitioners and institutions.
Updated the definition of 'conscience' to apply to health care payors as well as practitioners and institutions.
ELIGIBILITY
Extended the right to refuse participation in health care services based on conscience to include health care payors, not just practitioners and institutions.
Added a new provision stating that health care payors cannot be forced to pay for services if they have refused to participate in them based on conscience, unless they are contractually obligated to do so.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 9, 2026 · House Mar 26, 2025
How they voted
31–14
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 49
Mar 9, 2026
D
Democratic15
93% Nay
R
Republican34
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
5
Amendments
4
May 19, 2026
Signed into law
Signed by Governor.
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 63, nays 27.
lower
Mar 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
House concurred in Senate amendment H-8174.
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Introduced
Senate amendment H-8174 filed.
lower
Mar 9, 2026
Upper · Passed
Passed Senate, yeas 30, nays 16.
upper
Mar 9, 2026
Introduced
Amendment S-5078 filed, adopted.
upper
Feb 4, 2026
Upper · Passed
Committee report, recommending passage.
upper
Jan 22, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee recommends passage.
legislature
Jan 16, 2026
Legislature · Passed
Subcommittee Meeting: 01/22/2026 10:00AM Room 315.
legislature
Jan 16, 2026
Upper · Passed
Subcommittee: Taylor, Blake, and Green.
upper
Jun 16, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary.
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed House, yeas 64, nays 32.
lower
Mar 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Amendment H-1064 adopted.
lower
Mar 11, 2025
Introduced
Amendment H-1064 filed.
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Introduced
Introduced, placed on calendar.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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