# Access to Family Building Act: What You Need to Know

This bill would create a federal right to access fertility treatments and assisted reproductive technology without unnecessary government restrictions. In practical terms, it means people seeking fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg freezing, or other reproductive procedures would have a legal right to pursue them, and doctors would have the right to provide these services. The bill aims to prevent states and local governments from creating rules that make it harder to access these treatments than it would be to access other comparable medical procedures.

The bill specifically protects three groups: patients who want fertility treatments, doctors and clinics that provide them, and insurance companies that choose to cover these services. If a state passes a law that blocks or significantly restricts access to fertility treatments—or makes it much harder to get them than other medical procedures—patients, doctors, or clinics could sue in federal court to challenge that restriction. If they win, the court would strike down the problematic law or rule, and the winning side would get their legal fees paid by the losing side.

There are some important limits built into the bill. States can still enforce basic health and safety rules for medical facilities, as long as those rules actually protect patient safety and there's no less restrictive way to achieve that goal. The bill also doesn't change state insurance laws—meaning states can still decide whether insurance companies must cover fertility treatments. Additionally, the bill explicitly states it overrides the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, meaning religious objections cannot be used as a legal defense to block someone's access to these services under this federal law.

The bill essentially shifts power from states to the federal government on this issue, making fertility treatment access a federally protected right rather than something left entirely to state regulation.

Access to Family Building Act

Wild, Susan

Access to Family Building Act This bill provides a statutory right to access assisted reproductive technology (e.g., in vitro fertilization). Specifically, under the bill, individuals have the right to access assisted reproductive technology, and to retain all rights with respect to the use or disposition of reproductive genetic materials (e.g., eggs or sperm), without prohibitions or unreasonable restrictions. Health care providers and insurers also have the right to provide and cover these services, respectively. The bill does not affect state or local health and safety regulations that achieve their purpose in the least restrictive manner possible. The Department of Justice may bring civil actions against states, localities, or government officials or entities that enact or enforce limitations or requirements that violate this bill. Individuals and health care providers who are affected by violations may also bring civil actions for relief.