The Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act of 2025 defines reproductive coercion—behaviors such as sabotaging birth control, forcing pregnancy, or coercing abortion—as a form of domestic violence under federal law. The bill creates a private right of action allowing victims to sue abusers in federal court for actual damages, punitive damages, and other relief when the abuse involves interstate commerce (such as traveling across state lines for healthcare or using mail delivery of contraception). The legislation applies to abuse by intimate partners, spouses, dating partners, or family members, with eligibility for federal lawsuits triggered by circumstances like interstate travel, use of mail or electronic communication, or payments made across state lines. The bill preserves state authority over custody, property, and family law matters, and does not change how states define domestic violence for their own purposes. Congress found that between 10-12 million Americans experience domestic violence annually, with studies showing 8-16 percent of women have experienced reproductive coercion, often increasing their risk of serious harm or homicide.
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