Rep. Dave Min Introduces First-Of-Its-Kind Legislation To Support Victims of Reproductive Coercion

Washington, D.C. -Today, Representative Dave Min (CA-47), introduced first-of-its-kind legislation to address reproductive coercion. The Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act would ensure that survivors have meaningful tools to protect their reproductive freedom and safety. By explicitly defining reproductive coercion in federal law and creating a pathway for civil enforcement, this legislation ensures that survivors can fight back against their abusers, seek justice, and reclaim their autonomy.

"Recognizing reproductive coercion as a form of domestic violence is long overdue," said Rep. Dave Min. "Survivors deserve access to clear, enforceable legal protections that reflect the realities of coercive control and reproductive abuse. I'm proud to continue my work to protect survivors and guarantee they can seek justice."

As a California State Senator, then-Senator Min passed five domestic violence prevention bills into law, including a first-in-the-nation bill to recognize reproductive coercion as a form of domestic violence.

This bill is supported by the Democratic Women's Caucus (DWC), Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA), Jewish Women International (JWI), University of California Irvine Domestic Violence Clinic, Equality California, Laura's House, Community Legal Aid SoCal, Radiant Futures, and California Partnership to End Domestic Violence (CPEDV).

This bill is cosponsored by Representatives Tokuda (HI-02), Randall (WA-06), Pou (NJ-09), McDonald Rivet (MI-08), McBride (D-At Large), J. Johnson (TX-32), Ansari (AZ-03), Wasserman Schultz (FL-25), Walkinshaw (VA-11), S. Garcia (TX-29), L. Simon (CA-12), Scholten (MI-03), Sykes (OH-13), Norton (D-DC), Deluzio (PA-17), Goldman (NY-10), and Ross (NC-02).

"Equality California is proud to support the Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act of 2025. Reproductive coercion is a devastating form of abuse that strips survivors of their freedom, dignity, and bodily autonomy. By recognizing it as a form of domestic violence under federal law and creating a clear path to justice for survivors, this bill ensures that no one is forced to choose between their safety and their reproductive rights. We applaud Representative Min for his leadership in advancing this essential legislation and for centering the voices of survivors in the fight for equality and justice," said Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California.

"Many of the domestic violence survivors we represent have experienced forced pregnancy, interfere with contraceptive use, or control over pregnancy outcomes, and we see how reproductive coercion is an extremely pervasive and harmful violation of their safety and trust. Reproductive coercion is often difficult for survivors to speak about and for judges to recognize, legitimize, and remedy - in part because it's remained unnamed in federal definitions of abuse - and, as bill supporters on behalf of our clients, we urge passage of this bill as essential to the solution," said Professor Jane Stoever, Director of the UC Irvine Law Domestic Violence Clinic.

"Reproductive coercion is often sexual violence. It's about power, control, and denying the victim autonomy over their own body. The Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act is a critical step toward recognizing and addressing this often-invisible form of abuse. By naming reproductive coercion in federal law, we give survivors the tools and justice they have long been denied," said Omny Miranda Martone, Founder and CEO of the Sexual Violence Prevention Association (SVPA).

"The California Partnership to End Domestic Violence supports The Reproductive Coercion Prevention and Protection Act of 2025. As California's recognized domestic violence coalition, we know that asserting power and control, including power and control over a partner's reproductive choices, is a form of abuse. This important legislation will formally recognize this abuse and add reproductive coercion to the definition of domestic violence that is in the Violence Against Women Act. Expanding this definition will allow for survivors of reproductive coercion to pursue legal remedies against the person who coerced them in civil courts and establish federal protections for all who may experience coercion in making decisions over their reproductive health. Every person should have the right to control their own reproductive decision-making and the means to access justice and healing if that decision is taken away from them," said Christopher Negri, Associate Director of Policy at the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

Bill text can be found here.