Texas Alliance for Life Releases End of Session Recap

AUSTIN, TX – Texas Alliance for Life is pleased that, under the leadership of Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and Speaker Dennis Bonnen, the Texas Legislature had another successful session. Highlights of the 20-week session, ending on Memorial Day, include the passage of HB 16, the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act, SB 22 to protect taxpayers by defunding Planned Parenthood at the local level and a biennial budget that doubled funding for the State’s highly successful Alternatives to Abortion program. We are also delighted, that the Legislature passed SB 24 to ensure women receive information on alternatives to abortion at abortion facilities. Additionally, we strongly supported HB 902 to increase penalties for assaulting a pregnant woman, which also passed.

“We are very pleased with the gains made,” said Dr. Joe Pojman, Texas Alliance for Life’s Executive Director. “This was another successful session for mothers, unborn children, and vulnerable patients.”

Several potentially harmful bills were defeated, including SB 150, a New York-style abortion-rights bill; HB 4082, a dangerous election bill; and SB 2089, a bill that would force physicians and nurses to perform painful, medically inappropriate interventions indefinitely on terminally ill patients.

Lastly, we regret that the Trigger Ban, HB 2350 and SB 2160, to completely ban abortion when the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade did not pass. “That is a new idea for Texas, and new ideas frequently take multiple sessions to pass,” said Pojman. The ban on wrongful birth lawsuits, HB 4199, also failed to pass.

Click here for a detailed recap of the session.

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