On December 21, 2025, Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González-Colón signed Senate Bill 504 (Law 183-2025), officially recognizing the unborn child (nasciturus) as a “natural person” from the moment of conception. The law explicitly aims to align the Civil Code with the biological reality of unique genetic identity at fertilization. While it does not immediately amend the Penal Code on abortion, it grants fetuses civil rights like inheritance and legal standing. This creates a “conflict of laws” similar to the Scott Peterson trial, where a fetus was a person for homicide charges but not for abortion. This article examines the new law, its basis in scientific observation, and the inevitable legal collisions.
Bill Info: Puerto Rico Senate Bill 504 (Law 183-2025) | Signed: Dec. 21, 2025 | Jurisdiction: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico Senate Bill 504 fundamentally shifts the legal definition of human life by codifying that a “natural person” exists from the moment of conception. This law grants the unborn distinct civil rights, including inheritance and the capacity to be represented in court, based on the premise that a unique human life begins at fertilization.
Continue Reading
This article was originally published on Substack. Subscribe to get updates directly to your inbox.