Pregnancy Justice tracked bills introduced during the 2024-2025 legislative cycle to identify trends that have the potential to increase the criminalization of pregnant people or that undermine pregnant people’s personhood. Pregnancy Justice also tracked legislation intended to enhance the safety, dignity, or privacy of pregnant people.
The 2024-2025 legislative cycle included an alarming number of bills that threaten the safety and well-being of pregnant people across the United States. There were some positive trends, however, including several bills that center the needs of pregnant people who have substance use disorder, and other bills that affirm the rights of pregnant people.
This policy brief offers an analysis of the bills introduced in this legislative cycle and what the trends mean for the criminalization of pregnant people.