- United States
- Utah
- Letter
Co-Sponsor and Pass the Pregnant Women in Custody Act (HB8690)
To: Sen. Lee, Sen. Curtis, Rep. Owens
From: A verified voter in West Jordan, UT
May 15
Co-sponsor and vote yes on HB8690, the Pregnant Women in Custody Act. Right now, pregnant women in federal prisons, immigration detention, and refugee resettlement facilities can be shackled during labor and placed in solitary confinement while carrying a child. This bill ends that. It bans restraints and restrictive housing during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery, and mandates evidence-based screening for high-risk pregnancies, substance use disorders, and mental health conditions.
This isn't just a healthcare issue — it's a basic human dignity issue with real enforcement teeth. The bill creates a civil cause of action so women whose rights are violated can actually hold facilities accountable, not just wait on administrative oversight that may never come. It also requires ten years of congressional reporting, so there's no hiding the data. Please co-sponsor this bill and push it to a vote.