Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) – Texas has become the largest state with a law that bans abortions before many women even know they are pregnant. The measure signed Wednesday by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott puts Texas in line with more than a dozen other states that have so-called heartbeat bills.
The measures ban abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat, possibly as early as six weeks. Federal courts have mostly blocked the measures from taking effect.
But the Supreme Court agreed this week to take up a Mississippi anti-abortion law and that is seen by abortion rights activists as a broader threat to women’s constitutional right to an abortion.
“The Texas Heartbeat law is very simple, if a heartbeat is detected, the baby must be protected. We are proud that Texas, Gov. Abbott, and a bipartisan group of lawmakers are leading the way with the strongest heartbeat law in the country. SB8 is designed to withstand the usual legal challenges and will protect babies in the womb from abortion,” said Jonathan Saenz, president and attorney for Texas Values.
Val Benavidez President of The Texas Freedom Network disagreed with the bill stating it will ban abortions before someone even knows they’re pregnant and allows virtually anyone to file a lawsuit against a physician who they allege performed an illegal abortion or a family member or friend who helps a person access one.
“As we struggle to recover from a global pandemic and a preventable and deadly power outage that left us freezing in the dark last February, Texans deserve better than elected leaders who have so much contempt for the freedom to make our own private health care decisions. Signing this bill into law doesn’t change the fact that most Texans believe abortion should be accessible and that everyone should be free to determine the course of their own reproductive lives, including whether and when to become a parent. This law doesn’t just have government interfere in these decisions, but also gives virtually anyone the ability to legally harass and try to financially ruin a physician, family member or friend who helps someone obtain an abortion. This bill is about little more than anti-abortion extremists trying to control and shame people for making health care decision they don’t like,” said Benavidez.
The law goes into effect September 1st, 2021.
The heartbeat bill is now LAW in the Lone Star State.
This bill ensures the life of every unborn child with a heartbeat will be saved from the ravages of abortion.
Thank you @SenBryanHughes, @ShelbySlawson, & #txlege for fighting for the lives of the unborn in Texas. pic.twitter.com/aolhUKM9tv
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 19, 2021
