Frankfort, KY — Kentucky Right to Life today announced strong support for House Bill 646, filed this morning in the Kentucky House of Representatives. 

HB 646, sponsored by Representative Nancy Tate and Representative T.J. Roberts, along with more than a dozen co-sponsors, titled “An Act Relating to Pharmaceuticals That Terminate Life”. The legislation addresses what Kentucky Right to Life describes as the aggressive marketing and trafficking of drugs intended to end life — from its earliest beginnings to life’s final stages.

“This Is About Enforcement and Protection”

“Kentucky has clear laws protecting life,” said Addia Wuchner, R.N., Executive Director of Kentucky Right to Life. “But we are witnessing increasingly aggressive marketing and cross-border trafficking of abortion-inducing drugs into our Commonwealth. That is not healthcare — that is death trafficking.”

Nationally, chemical abortion now accounts for many abortions. At the same time, assisted-suicide laws have expanded in multiple states and jurisdictions, increasing the likelihood of cross-border pharmaceutical distribution into Kentucky, where assisted suicide remains illegal.

“When the aggressive abortion industry, their pharmaceutical profiteers and anti-life advocacy networks intentionally target states like Kentucky that protect life, vulnerable people are placed at risk,” Wuchner said.

“As a daughter, sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, guardian, and friend, I am committed to protecting life from conception to natural death. As the guardian of my 92-year-old aunt and the grandmother of 5, I have the honor of sharing the joy of life with all age groups. HB 646 reinforces Kentucky’s commitment to life regardless of the terms. I am honored to have had the opportunity to represent women, families, and the weakest among us across Kentucky”, stated HB 646 primary sponsor, Representative Nancy Tate, (R-27)

What HB 646 Does

HB 646:

– Establishes clear felony penalties for the trafficking or marketing of pharmaceuticals intended to terminate life in violation of Kentucky law 

– Applies to abortion-inducing drugs and assisted-suicide drug regimens 

– Targets traffickers, distributors, and marketers — not patients 

– Provides a civil cause of action for individuals harmed by unlawful distribution 

– Requires public reporting of abortion-pill complications through the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services 

“This bill ensures that those who attempt to profit from the illegal distribution of life-ending drugs face serious criminal consequences,” Wuchner stated.

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

HB 646 is focused on protecting:

– Unborn children 

– Women facing unexpected pregnancies 

– The elderly 

– Individuals with disabilities 

– Those experiencing serious medical or mental health crises 

“When drugs intended to end life are marketed and distributed across state lines in ways that conflict with Kentucky law, vulnerable individuals can be placed at risk,” Wuchner said. “We are grateful to Representative Tate, Representative Roberts, and the many co-sponsors who have taken leadership on this issue. Their commitment reflects Kentucky’s longstanding respect for the dignity of every human life.”

“We encourage members of the General Assembly to carefully consider HB 646 and its focus on enforceability and accountability,” Wuchner continued. “Kentucky Right to Life, along with other life-affirming organizations across the Commonwealth, looks forward to working constructively with legislators during the 2026 Session to ensure that Kentucky’s laws remain clear, enforceable, and protective of the most vulnerable.”