AUSTIN, Texas — Texas lawmakers sent Gov. Greg Abbott two major abortion-related bills earlier this year. But more may be on the way.
Abbott issued a proclamation Wednesday identifying 18 agenda items for a special legislative session beginning July 21. That includes “legislation further protecting unborn children and their mothers from the harm of abortion.â€
The proclamation did not provide further detail on what types of measures might fall under that item. But before Abbott released the agenda, more than 100 groups and people, including Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, signed a letter urging the governor to call a special session to revive a specific medication abortion bill that died during the regular session.
John Seago — president of the anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life, which penned the letter to Abbott — expressed confidence lawmakers will resurrect that expansive 30-page bill. The proposal would ban the distribution, prescription and provision of abortion medication to any person or location within the state.
“This is the only abortion bill that has this much momentum,†Seago said. “It is impossible to argue thereÃÛèÖÊÓƵ another pro-life bill that he has in mind or that anyone should have in mind.â€
In the regular session, that bill was carried by Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, and Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen. The measure, which was one of Texas Right to LifeÃÛèÖÊÓƵ top legislative priorities this year, passed the state Senate, but died in the House toward the end of the regular session.
Hughes was not made available for an interview Thursday. Leach did not respond to a text message seeking comment Thursday, and a spokesperson for his office did not respond to two emailed requests for comment.
Joe Pojman, the executive director of anti-abortion group Texas Alliance for Life, is less focused on the medication abortion bill for the upcoming special session.
ThatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ because itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ already illegal for a non-physician in Texas to knowingly provide abortion pills to a pregnant woman to end the pregnancy. And state law prevents any manufacturer or person from providing a pregnant woman an abortion-inducing drug by courier, delivery or mail service.
On the abortion medication front, Pojman said he wants local district attorneys to enforce the existing laws. For the special session, Pojman instead would like to see additional restrictions on minors traveling out of state for abortion care.
Two such bills — filed in the Senate by Sen. Phil King, R-Weatherford, and in the House by Rep. Ellen Troxlcair, R-Lakeway — did not make it out of their respective committees during the regular session.
A spokesperson for King did not respond to an emailed request for comment on whether he would push for passage of his bill in the special session.
Overall, though, Pojman said heÃÛèÖÊÓƵ already pleased with the bills passed this year.
“We were just thrilled and delighted at the bills that were passed and signed during the regular session,†he said.
Abbott signed two abortion bills into law last month. A bipartisan proposal clarifying when doctors may legally provide abortion care to save a womanÃÛèÖÊÓƵ life took effect June 20. And Republican-led bill ― to close what GOP lawmakers described as a loophole that allowed Austin and San Antonio to send taxpayer money to abortion assistance groups ― will go into effect Sept. 1.
In a phone interview Thursday afternoon, Sen. Molly Cook, D-Houston — an emergency room nurse who has had an abortion — said she sees firsthand how these policies affect patients’ ability to seek care, and how doctors practice.
“The general prevailing wisdom is that if itÃÛèÖÊÓƵ really scary and could cause a lot of harm, we will see the bill again,†Cook said of the medication abortion ban proposal. “I suspect that might be the case, but either way we will be fully prepared.â€
Cook said that preparation will include asking donors and constituents to contact their local leaders in the Texas House and Senate, while Democratic lawmakers push back on or water down legislation to further limit abortion access.
“Any strategy should be on the table,†she said. “We just need state leadership to understand that Texans do not want this kind of policy to pass.â€
Cook said the governorÃÛèÖÊÓƵ special session agenda will affect every resident of the state and urged Texans to tune in.
“Put on that live stream while you’re cooking dinner,†she advised. “See whatÃÛèÖÊÓƵ going on. This will be very significant, and it will be very telling about where our stateÃÛèÖÊÓƵ priorities lie.â€
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