H.B. No. 15 Summary

• Revises informed consent requirements for abortion procedures, including ultrasound viewing and auscultation (listening to fetal heartbeat) with options for pregnant women to avert their eyes or reduce volume.

• Requires physicians to meet in person with pregnant women at least 24 hours before abortion to provide information about the procedure, medical risks, gestational age, risks of carrying to term, and potential psychological/emotional harms.

• Establishes state publication and distribution of materials about fetal development at two-week increments, family planning resources, breast cancer risks, and psychological risks associated with abortion.

• Creates civil liability for physicians who perform abortions with actual knowledge or heedless indifference to unmet informed consent conditions, allowing compensatory and exemplary damages to affected persons.

• Adds violations of informed consent requirements to grounds for professional discipline under the State Medical Board and requires the Auditor of State to establish audit procedures and penalties for non-compliance.