H.R. 722: Life at Conception Act
Sponsor
Eric Burlison
Republican · MO-7
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Jan 24, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Congress pushes fetal personhood nationwide
Why it matters
112 House members have already signed onto H.R. 722. The bill says legal personhood begins at fertilization, cloning, or another moment a human comes into being — a definition that could reshape abortion and embryo-related law nationwide.
H.R. 722, the Life at Conception Act, says the Constitution's right to life applies to every human being, including what the bill calls "preborn" persons. In plain English, it tries to create a federal personhood standard that starts before birth, not at birth.
The bill defines a human person as every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including from fertilization, cloning, or another moment a human individual comes into being. That broad wording matters because it reaches beyond abortion alone and could affect legal debates involving embryos created outside the womb.
The bill also says this rule should apply broadly across the country, including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories. Sponsors argue Congress can do this through its constitutional powers and its authority to enforce the 14th Amendment.
One limit is written into the text itself: H.R. 722 says nothing in the act authorizes prosecuting a woman for the death of her unborn child. The bill does not include penalties, funding, agency rules, or implementation deadlines, so many of its real-world effects would likely be fought over in court.
H.R. 722 Bill Summary
What H.R. 722 actually does.
Legal personhood starts before birth
The bill says a human person includes every member of the human species at all stages of life, including from fertilization, cloning, or another moment a human individual comes into being.
Constitutional protections extend to the preborn
Congress says in the bill that the Constitution's right to life is vested in each human being, including what the text describes as born and preborn persons.
The rule applies nationwide
H.R. 722 says the term "State" includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories or possessions, not just the 50 states.
Women are not prosecutable under this act itself
The text says nothing in H.R. 722 authorizes prosecuting a woman for the death of her unborn child.
Courts would decide much of the fallout
The bill sets a broad personhood definition but does not spell out penalties, enforcement steps, agency guidance, or a timeline, leaving many practical effects unresolved in the text.
Backed by more than 100 House members
H.R. 722 was introduced with 112 cosponsors, showing substantial support inside the House Republican conference even before any committee vote.
Who benefits from H.R. 722?
Anti-abortion groups seeking federal personhood language
They would get a federal law saying personhood begins at fertilization, cloning, or another moment a human life begins, strengthening arguments for broader protections before birth.
Supporters of nationwide fetal rights policy
Instead of a patchwork of state rules, they would have one federal definition designed to apply across all 50 states, D.C., Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories.
Women covered by the bill's prosecution limit
The text specifically says H.R. 722 itself does not authorize prosecuting a woman for the death of her unborn child.
Who is affected by H.R. 722?
Pregnant patients
Your pregnancy could be evaluated under a federal definition that says personhood begins before birth, even though the bill itself does not list specific criminal penalties.
People using IVF or other fertility treatment
Because the bill covers fertilization and all stages of human life, it could affect legal fights over embryos created, stored, or discarded outside the womb.
Abortion providers and clinics
If courts accepted the bill's personhood framework, providers could face major legal exposure in future abortion-related cases, even though H.R. 722 does not spell out a separate enforcement system.
Judges, regulators, and state governments
They would be left to interpret how a federal personhood rule interacts with existing abortion laws, wrongful-death claims, criminal law, and reproductive-health policy.
HR722 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Jan 24, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Eric Burlison
Republican, Missouri's 7th congressional district · 3 years in Congress
Committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, Oversight and Government Reform
View full profile →
Cosponsors (112)
All 112 cosponsors are Republicans. Cosponsors represent 34 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, and 31 more.
Dale Strong
Republican · AL
Warren Davidson
Republican · OH
Mark Green
Republican · TN
Mike Bost
Republican · IL
Daniel Webster
Republican · FL
Claudia Tenney
Republican · NY
Josh Brecheen
Republican · OK
John Moolenaar
Republican · MI
Ben Cline
Republican · VA
Pete Sessions
Republican · TX
Jodey Arrington
Republican · TX
Darrell Issa
Republican · CA
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
12 of 42 committee members cosponsored
12 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
H.R. 722 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Introduced
- Jan 24, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 24, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with text, status, sponsor, cosponsors, and committee referral information for the Life at Conception Act.
The bill expressly invokes Congress's enforcement power under Section 5 of the Fourteenth Amendment and frames its policy around equal protection and the right to life.
This Congressional Research Service Constitution Annotated essay provides official background on the Equal Protection Clause the bill cites as constitutional authority.
This official constitutional analysis explains Congress's Section 5 enforcement authority, which H.R. 722 relies on in its findings and purpose language.
Official congressional constitutional reference source relevant to the bill's reliance on the Fourteenth Amendment and constitutional definitions of rights and personhood.
H.R. 722 was referred to the House Judiciary Committee, making this the official committee site to monitor if the bill advances.
Official Government Publishing Office collection for enrolled and introduced bill texts, useful for locating authenticated legislative text and versions.
Official government publication of the Constitution and annotations, relevant because the bill centers on constitutional right-to-life and equal-protection claims.
H.R. 722 Common Questions
What does H.R. 722 actually do?
It creates a federal definition of "human person" that starts at fertilization, cloning, or another moment a human life begins, and says the Constitution's right to life applies before birth too.
Does H.R. 722 say life begins at fertilization?
Yes. The bill says a human person includes every member of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life, including from fertilization, cloning, or another moment a human comes into being.
Would H.R. 722 ban abortion nationwide?
The bill does not contain the words "national abortion ban," but it would create a nationwide personhood standard that could be used in abortion cases if courts accept Congress's argument.
Could H.R. 722 affect IVF and frozen embryos?
Potentially, yes. Because the bill covers fertilization and all stages of human life, it could shape legal disputes involving embryos created or stored outside the womb, even though IVF is not named directly.
Can a woman be prosecuted under H.R. 722?
The text says no part of H.R. 722 authorizes prosecuting a woman for the death of her unborn child. That limit applies to this act itself, not necessarily to every future legal dispute tied to it.
Does H.R. 722 apply outside the 50 states?
Yes. The bill says its definition of "State" includes the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and other U.S. territories or possessions.
Does H.R. 722 create penalties or funding?
No. The bill text includes no fines, prison terms, grants, agency funding, or implementation deadline. Many effects would depend on later enforcement decisions and court rulings.
What is H.R. 722's status right now?
H.R. 722 was introduced on January 24, 2025 and referred to the House Judiciary Committee. It also has 112 cosponsors, which shows strong support but not a guaranteed floor vote.
Based on H.R. 722 bill text
H.R. 722 Bill Text
“To implement equal protection under the 14th article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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