The proposed bill, known as the "Medical Ethics Defense Act," establishes the rights of health care professionals, institutions, and payers to refuse participation in or payment for health care services that conflict with their conscience, which is defined as their ethical, moral, or religious beliefs. It prohibits discrimination against these entities for exercising their right of conscience and protects them from adverse licensing actions based on their decisions. The bill also outlines the definitions of key terms such as "discrimination," "health care professional," and "health care service," and specifies that the right of conscience does not waive any existing duties to provide or pay for services that do not violate these beliefs.

Additionally, the bill provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for health care professionals and institutions exercising their right of conscience. It allows for civil actions to be brought for violations of the act and mandates that the Department of Insurance and the Department of Health create necessary rules for implementation. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and will apply to health care services and payment obligations arising on or after that date. It also clarifies that it does not supersede any existing state laws that offer equal or greater protection for conscience rights.