Published

March 17, 2025

AUSTIN, TX — Texas Alliance for Life strongly supports the Life of the Mother Act, SB 31, filed by Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) and HB 44 by Rep. Charlie Geren (R-Fort Worth), which advance continuing medical education (CME) for physicians who treat pregnant women and continuing legal education (CLE) for attorneys advising hospitals and medical professionals on Texas’ pro-life laws. We also support SB 2626 by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-Bulverde) to create CME.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dustin Burrows have prioritized passage. In addition to creating CLE and CME, both bills standardize the definitions of the medical exception throughout the various abortion statutes by referring to the definition in the Human Life Protection Act.

“Texas law has always allowed doctors to perform abortions on women facing life-threatening pregnancy complications, but misinformation has created unnecessary confusion in some hospital settings,” said Amy O’Donnell, Communications Director for Texas Alliance for Life. “SB 31 and HB 44 help ensure that doctors and attorneys have the proper education to confidently follow the law and provide pregnant women the standard of care Texas law allows and they deserve.”

“Unfortunately, some doctors and hospital attorneys have misunderstood or misapplied the law, leading to unnecessary delays in care. SB 31 and HB 44 address this issue by requiring education for medical and legal professionals to ensure pregnant women receive the standard of care permitted under Texas law,” O’Donnell added.

Since the Texas Human Life Protection Act (HLPA) took effect in 2022, Texas law has an exception that clearly allows medically necessary abortions in cases where a pregnancy endangers a woman’s life or could cause serious impairment of a major bodily function. Doctors have reported performing more than 140 abortions under the exception without repercussions. No woman has lost her life for lack of an exception.

The Texas Supreme Court has twice upheld the HLPA, finding that it is constitutional and is clear for physicians to understand. Those cases are In Re State of Texas and Texas v. Zurawski.

Additionally, SB 31 and HB 44 reinforce what Texas law already states — that treatments for ectopic pregnancies and miscarriage management are not considered abortion. This provision helps further dispel false claims that Texas’ pro-life laws prevent necessary medical care.

Contact
Amy O’Donnell, Communications Director
512.477.1244 (o)
amy@texasallianceforlife.org

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