Criminal Law - Causing Ingestion of an Abortion-Inducing Drug - Prohibition (Women's Freedom From Coercion Act)
HB0885 creates a new criminal offense for knowingly and willfully causing another person to ingest an abortion-inducing drug when the actor knows or believes the other person is pregnant and the ingestion occurs without consent, through fraud or coercion, or by force or threat of force. The bill defines “abortion-inducing drug” broadly as a drug, medicine, or medicinal or chemical preparation intended to induce an abortion.
The bill classifies a violation as a felony punishable by up to 10 years’ imprisonment. It is framed as the “Women’s Freedom From Coercion Act” and would take effect on October 1, 2026. In practical terms, it would add a specific offense to Maryland criminal law targeting nonconsensual or deceptive administration of abortion-related medication.
HB0885 would add Section 3-216 to the Maryland Criminal Law Article, creating a standalone felony offense for coercing, deceiving, or forcing a pregnant person to ingest an abortion-inducing drug. It would expand state criminal law enforcement tools in cases involving reproductive coercion, assaultive conduct, or forced abortion-related medication use, and could apply to private individuals who act without consent or through fraud, coercion, force, or threats. The bill does not alter abortion access generally, but it creates new liability for conduct involving abortion-inducing drugs and establishes a specific penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Based on the bill title and framing, the measure appears to be presented as a protective, anti-coercion bill focused on preventing forced or deceptive administration of abortion medication. No committee transcript or vote data is available, so there is no recorded legislative debate or voting pattern to indicate broader support or opposition. The available context suggests the bill is likely intended to appeal to concerns about bodily autonomy and coercion rather than to regulate consensual abortion care.
The likely points of contention are the bill’s abortion-related subject matter, the breadth of the definition of “abortion-inducing drug,” and how prosecutors would prove knowledge, belief, lack of consent, fraud, coercion, or force. Supporters would likely emphasize protection from reproductive coercion and violence, while opponents may argue the bill could be used to criminalize conduct in sensitive pregnancy-related situations or create ambiguity around medical and interpersonal interactions. Because no hearing transcript or vote record is provided, specific named objections or supporters are not available.