S. 589: Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act

The Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act aims to address misinformation in the advertising related to abortion services. Here’s a breakdown of the key components of the bill:

1. Short Title

This legislation may be referred to as the "Stop Antiabortion Disinformation Act" or the "SAD Act".

2. Findings

Congress recognizes several findings:

• Abortion services are fundamental to reproductive health care.
• The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization led to the reversal of Roe v. Wade, affecting abortion access.
• As of January 2025, 14 states have banned abortion, impacting 17.9 million individuals of reproductive age.
• Access to abortion clinics has become more difficult, with increased travel times that disproportionately affect women with low incomes and women of color.
• Misinformation from Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) undermines access to reproductive health care and leads to delays in obtaining abortion services.
• CPCs often misrepresent themselves as comprehensive health care providers while providing deceptive information about abortion and contraception.

3. Prohibition on Disinformation Relating to Abortion Services

(a) Prohibition

The bill makes it illegal for any entity to engage in misleading advertising regarding reproductive health services, specifically if they:

• Claim to offer or provide contraception or abortion services (or referrals for such services) that they do not.
• Misrepresent employment or accessibility of licensed medical personnel.

(b) Rulemaking

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is empowered to create regulations to enforce this prohibition.

(c) Enforcement by Commission

The FTC will enforce the provisions of the Act in the same manner as it enforces other regulations against deceptive acts under the Federal Trade Commission Act. This includes the ability to:

• Bring civil actions in federal courts.
• Impose penalties and ensure compliance.

(d) Civil Penalty

Violations of this Act may result in civil penalties. The maximum penalty is:

• $100,000 (adjusted for inflation), or
• 50% of the revenue earned by the entity in the prior year.

(e) Reports

The FTC is required to report to Congress every two years, detailing enforcement actions and regulations related to this Act.

(f) Savings Clause

The Act does not limit the FTC's authority under any other laws.

(g) Definitions

Key terms in the Act are defined, including:

• Abortion services: Encompasses any medical or non-medical services related to abortion.
• Commission: Refers to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Person: Refers to the definition given in federal law.

Relevant Companies

None found