By: BRITTNEY MARTIN

In an earlier draft of the bill, minors were to assume that the bypass was not granted if a judge did not rule in time. The language drew criticism from Joe Pojman, executive director of the anti-abortion group Texas Alliance for Life, who said the automatic denial would lead to court challenges.

By: BRITTNEY MARTIN

Joe Pojman, the executive director of Texas Alliance for Life, said he champions the bill as a whole but fears the default denial provision will invite a legal challenge.

“It really is a question of whether this has any benefit that outweighs the risk of a constitutional challenge in federal court,” Pojman said. “And we just do not think it does.”