Abortion & Reproductive Rights

Bans selling or advertising items for illegal abortions with criminal penalties.

This bill creates new civil liability by establishing a wrongful death cause of action for unborn children when abortion-inducing medicines are used in violation of existing law. It allows multiple parties (pregnant female, father, maternal grandparents if minor, other harmed persons, and estate if death occurs) to sue for compensatory and punitive damages, costs, and attorney fees. The bill sets a preponderance of evidence standard for proving harm and establishes a 3-year statute of limitations. It also creates criminal penalties and civil enforcement mechanisms for delivering abortion-inducing substances into the state.

Requires schools to teach about fetal development during pregnancy.

This bill requires the South Dakota Board of Education Standards to recommend resources for prenatal human development education in schools. School districts must use these resources in health or science curricula. The instruction must include high-definition ultrasound videos showing organ development and prenatal development from fertilization to birth (minimum 3 minutes). The bill prohibits using materials from entities that perform, promote, contract with, affiliate with, or refer patients for abortions.