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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
coerced abortion; abortion-inducing drugs
Purpose
Establishes the criminal classification of coerced abortion, which a person commits by knowingly administering an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her consent with intent to cause an abortion. Classifies a violation as a class 2 felony.
Background
Abortion-inducing drugs may only be provided by qualified physicians in accordance with statutory requirements and manufacturers, suppliers and physicians may not provide abortion-inducing drugs by courier, delivery or mail service. These prohibitions do not apply to drugs that may be known to cause an abortion but that are prescribed for other medical indications (A.R.S. § 36-2160).
A class 2 felony carries a presumptive sentence of seven years for first time offenders and a fine of not more than $150,000 (A.R.S. §§ 13-702 and 13-801).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Establishes the criminal classification of coerced abortion which a person commits by knowingly administering or giving an abortion-inducing drug to a pregnant woman without her knowledge or consent with the intent to cause an abortion.
2. Classifies coerced abortion as a class 2 felony.
3. Specifies that this classification does not prevent prosecution under any other law if the person commits coerced abortion and the use of the abortion-inducing drug causes the death of or bodily injury to the pregnant woman or an unborn child.
4. Defines abortion-inducing drug as:
a) a medicine, drug or combination of drugs or chemicals or any other substance that is used with the intent of causing an abortion; and
b) off-label drugs that are known to have abortion-inducing properties, such as mifepristone, RU-486, Mifeprex, Cytotec, misoprostol and methotrexate.
5. Specifies that abortion-inducing drug does not include:
a) any drug that may be known to increase the risk of miscarriage but that is prescribed for other medical indication, such as chemotherapeutic agents or diagnostic drugs; and
b) contraceptives, emergency contraceptives or methotrexate when used to treat an ectopic pregnancy.
6. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
JUD 2/11/26 DP 6-3-0-0
3rd Read 2/23/26 32-25-3
Prepared by Senate Research
March 2, 2026
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