Maine House Bill LD1154

Maine 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/20/25
• Refer: 3/20/25
• Failed: 6/10/25

Caption

An Act to Require That Informed Consent for Abortion Include Information on Perinatal Hospice

Summary

LD 1154 would amend Maine’s informed-consent requirements for abortion to add a new disclosure requirement when a fetus has been diagnosed with a lethal fetal anomaly. In that situation, and except in a medical emergency, a health care professional would have to tell the patient at least 24 hours before the abortion, orally and in person, that perinatal hospice services are available as an alternative to abortion and provide a list of available providers. If the patient declines those services and still chooses abortion, she would have to sign a written certification acknowledging both the decision to decline perinatal hospice and receipt of the provider list. The bill also directs the Department of Health and Human Services to maintain a list of perinatal hospice providers in Maine and nationwide, organized geographically and made available in English, Spanish, and other languages as appropriate. It defines key terms such as abortion, lethal fetal anomaly, medical emergency, perinatal hospice services, ectopic pregnancy, and spontaneous abortion, and it treats failure to comply with the new disclosure requirement as unprofessional conduct subject to professional discipline under the relevant licensing laws.

Impact

The bill would amend Maine’s abortion informed-consent statute and add a new provider-disclosure obligation for abortions involving a lethal fetal anomaly. It would also create a state-maintained directory of perinatal hospice providers and expose noncompliant health care professionals to discipline under the state’s professional licensing and conduct statutes. The practical effect would be to add a new counseling and documentation step before certain abortions, while leaving the underlying legality of abortion unchanged.

Sentiment

The voting history suggests the bill faced significant opposition. The House rejected the majority ought-not-to-pass report by a narrow margin, indicating a divided chamber, and the Senate later accepted that report. That pattern suggests the proposal generated meaningful debate but ultimately did not secure enough support to advance. No committee transcript was provided, but the recorded votes indicate the bill was controversial rather than broadly embraced.

Contention

The main point of contention is likely whether requiring perinatal hospice counseling and written certification is an appropriate informed-consent measure or an additional burden on patients and providers seeking abortion after a lethal fetal anomaly diagnosis. Supporters appear to view the bill as ensuring patients receive information about an alternative form of care and support, while opponents likely object to the mandated in-person counseling, the 24-hour timing requirement, and the possibility of professional discipline for noncompliance. The requirement applies only in a narrow category of cases, but it still raises broader concerns about abortion access, patient autonomy, and the role of the state in counseling decisions.