Life at Conception Act

House Bill

H.R. 722

119th Congress

Life at Conception Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jan 24, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Eric Wayne Burlison

Representative

Republican

MO-7

Cosponsors

90

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Summary

This bill declares that constitutional right to life protections apply from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other point when a human being comes into existence. It explicitly states that nothing in the bill authorizes prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child. The legislation aims to extend legal personhood to the earliest stages of human development.

Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill declares that constitutional right to life protections apply from the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other point when a human being comes into existence. It explicitly states that nothing in the bill authorizes prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child. The legislation aims to extend legal personhood to the earliest stages of human development.

Last updated: 1/4/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Life at Conception Act This bill declares that the right to life guaranteed by the Constitution is vested in each human being at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual comes into being. Nothing in this bill shall be construed to authorize the prosecution of any woman for the death of her unborn child.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Declares constitutional right to life begins at fertilization
Includes moment of cloning as protected starting point
Explicitly exempts women from prosecution
Extends personhood protections to all stages of development
Constitutional interpretation of existing right to life provisions

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

This is one of the most consequential abortion-related bills, as it would establish federal personhood protections from conception. If enacted, it could provide a legal basis for restricting or prohibiting abortion nationwide by declaring embryos and fetuses constitutional persons. The explicit exemption for prosecuting women addresses concerns about criminal liability for pregnant individuals.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues

Related Subjects

Abortion

Constitution and constitutional amendments

Genetics

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

722, 119th Congress (2025). "Life at Conception Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-722