Right to Contraception Act
Summary
Right to Contraception Act This bill sets out statutory protections for an individual's right to access and a health care provider's right to provide contraception and related information. Contraception refers to an action taken to prevent pregnancy, including the use of contraceptives (i.e., a device or medication used to prevent pregnancy), fertility-awareness based methods, and sterilization procedures. Generally, the bill prohibits measures that single out and impede access to contraception and related information. However, a party may defend against a claim that a measure violates the bill's prohibitions by demonstrating, through clear and convincing evidence, that the measure significantly advances the safety of contraception and cannot be achieved through less restrictive means. The bill also specifies that the prohibition preempts inconsistent state and local laws and applies in spite of other federal laws, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. The Department of Justice, individuals, or health care providers may bring a lawsuit to enforce this bill, and states are not immune from suits for violations.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jul 2022
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jul 26, 2022
Last action Jul 26, 2022
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
2
Key actions
0
Committee
1
Jul 26, 2022
Committee
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
upper
Jul 26, 2022
Introduced
Introduced in Senate
upper
1 primary · 25 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Edward J. Markey
DDemocratic
Co
Amy Klobuchar
DDemocratic
Co
Benjamin L. Cardin
DDemocratic
Co
Brian Schatz
DDemocratic
Co
Catherine Cortez Masto
DDemocratic
Co
Christopher Murphy
DDemocratic
Co
Dianne Feinstein
DDemocratic
Co
Elizabeth Warren
DDemocratic
Co
Jack Reed
DDemocratic
Co
Jeff Merkley
DDemocratic
Co
John W. Hickenlooper
DDemocratic
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about S 4612
Scope: US
Hi! I can help you understand S 4612. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline