PEARL Act

Tim Burchett

Republican · TN · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

No cosponsors on record. Bills can pass without cosponsors — this often means the sponsor introduced the bill alone, either because it's a messaging bill, a chairman's mark, or simply early in the legislative cycle.

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

2026-04-20

Source: Congress.gov

This bill would allow pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for medications that can induce abortion based on their religious beliefs, without facing legal consequences from their employers or state licensing boards. The measure protects pharmacists' ability to opt out of dispensing these drugs while potentially leaving patients responsible for finding another pharmacy to fill their prescriptions. It affects both pharmacists seeking religious exemptions and patients who may face delays or difficulty accessing these medications.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 8366 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 8366 To protect the religious freedom of pharmacists choosing not to dispense or sell abortion-inducing drugs. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 20, 2026 Mr. Burchett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To protect the religious freedom of pharmacists choosing not to dispense or sell abortion-inducing drugs. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Pharmacists Ethical Autonomy and Religious Liberties Act'' or the ``PEARL Act''. SEC. 2. RELIGIOUS FREEDOM PROTECTION FOR PHARMACISTS CHOOSING NOT TO DISPENSE OR SELL ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS. (a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other law, a pharmacist (including a pharmacist employed by a private business or government agency) shall not be required to dispense or sell, nor be subject to any punishment (including revocation of a license to practice pharmacy or the withdrawal of Federal funding) for choosing not to dispense or sell, the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol for abortion services, if such dispensing or sale would conflict with the sincerely held religious beliefs of the pharmacist. (b) Private Right of Action.--A pharmacist who is required to dispense or sell, or is punished for choosing not to dispense or sell, the drugs mifepristone and misoprostol for abortion services in violation of subsection (a) may bring a civil action in Federal district court for injunctive relief against the person imposing such requirement or punishment. (c) Pharmacist Defined.--The term ``pharmacist'' means a person licensed by a State to practice pharmacy, including the dispensing and selling of prescription drugs. <all>

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