American territorial governor signs law affirming life begins at conception
As more and more American states are recognizing the legitimate reasons to oppose, even limit or ban, abortion industry businesses, a governor in one U.S. territory has declared that the unborn now are “recognized as natural persons.”
The territorial law in Puerto Rico now affirms that life begins at conception, according to a report at CBN.
“Rather than radical the law reflects a growing acknowledgment that legal systems cannot indefinitely avoid the scientific reality that human life begins at conception,” explained Vianca Rodriguez, a writer for República.com, a Spanish news outlet.
“By naming that reality directly, Puerto Rico chose honesty over ambiguity and placed the value of unborn life firmly within its legal framework, reinforcing long-standing principles of human dignity and the protection of life recognized in both Puerto Rico’s and the United States’ constitutional traditions,” she said.
It is Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon who just days ago signed into law Senate Bill 504, which changes the civil code to recognize an unborn child as a natural person.
The law reads, now, “Every human being is a natural person, including the conceived child at any stage of gestation within the mother’s womb.”
The change was authored by Thomas Rivera Schata, the Senate president, and co-sponsored by others.
BREAKING: Puerto Rico recognizes the humanity and legal personhood of unborn children from the moment of conception
Huge win for life!
— Lila Rose (@LilaGraceRose) December 26, 2025
The pro-life movement in the territory, however, has not yet accomplished a ban on abortion, which continues to be allowed.
But it does have a law that affirms a crime against a pregnant woman that results in the death of the unborn calls for two first-degree murder charges, not just one.
According to CBN, “Puerto Rico’s new laws are laying the groundwork for potential legal protections for the unborn. Puerto Rican Sen. Joanne Rodríguez-Veve noted that 2025 was a year ‘in which unprecedented progress was made.'”
Carol Tobias, of National Right to Life, issued a statement that affirmed, “Puerto Rico’s clear and courageous recognition of preborn babies as persons reflects a deep respect for life and provides a powerful example for lawmakers throughout the United States. Legal personhood for the preborn is not only consistent with science and human dignity but is the foundation upon which a culture of life can flourish.”