House approves law establishing parental-consent protocol for pregnancy termination for minors 15 and under

The Puerto Rico House of Representatives approved Senate Project 297 on Oct. 7, 2025, creating a statutory protocol that requires at least one parent or legal custodian with patria potestad to provide written informed consent before a medical termination of pregnancy is performed on a minor 15 years old or younger. The measure passed by a recorded vote of 35 in favor and 13 opposed.

The bill, presented to the full House by the president of the Judiciary Committee, was described as elevating an existing Department of Health regulation (Regulation 132, promulgated in 2008 and amended in 2024) to the level of law. Representative Pérez Cordero told the House the statute would “requerir la intervención de la implementación de un protocolo para el manejo de casos de menores de 15 años o menos” and would include exceptions for medical emergencies and referrals to Family and Justice agencies when abuse is suspected.

Proponents said the law provides legal certainty by codifying an administrative protocol. Representative Edgar Robles Rivera said the measure “asegura que los progenitores o tutores estén presentes y otorguen su consentimiento informado y que todo quede documentado correctamente el expediente de la menor,” and that the bill contains exceptions for emergency care and for cases arising from sexual assault.

Opponents warned the measure could harm minors who cannot safely notify parents. Representative Gutiérrez Colón said the bill would “criminalizarlas, revictimizarlas y sobre todo vulnera los derechos fundamentales de las niñas y adolescentes” and cited studies and court decisions from other jurisdictions that questioned the safety and constitutionality of similar laws. Representative Daisy Burgos Muñiz urged returning the bill to committee to refine statistics and safeguards and stated for the record: “los derechos humanos empiezan en el vientre materno.”

Debate also included requests for clearer data collection: several members pressed for statistics on the number of minors seeking pregnancy termination and called for requirements that hospitals document medical necessity, forensic interviews and referrals to police and the Department of the Family when abuse is suspected.

Outcome and next steps: The House approved the measure on final vote 35–13. The bill will follow the legislative process toward the governor’s desk in accordance with concurrence and enrollment procedures.

Context: Sponsors and committee staff said the text largely mirrors the Department of Health protocol in force since 2008 (amended 2024) but places it in statute to provide what proponents described as greater legal certainty. Opponents said the statute as drafted needs additional safeguards for minors living with or dependent upon an abusive guardian and for robust data and reporting requirements.