Largest Texas County Enacts Ban on Assistance for Abortion Travel

Ordinance empowers citizens to sue anyone assisting pregnant women in getting an abortion in Lubbock County, now the fourth and largest in Texas to adopt such a ban; critics raise concerns over potential constitutional violations and fear-inducing barriers to healthcare.

• Lubbock County, a conservative hub with more than 300,000 residents near the New Mexico border, has enacted a ban on travel assistance for abortions, making it the fourth and largest county in Texas to adopt such a measure.
• The ordinance was passed in a 3-0 vote and allows citizens to sue anyone who assists a pregnant woman in getting an abortion in Lubbock County or helps them travel through the county seeking abortion care. It does not apply to the person seeking an abortion.
• The ordinance was drafted by anti-abortion activist Mark Lee Dickson and former Texas solicitor general Jonathan F. Mitchell, the same pair responsible for Texas's six-week abortion ban enforced through private citizens' lawsuits. Notably, this ordinance does not involve county officers or employees, seemingly circumventing an immediate court challenge and possible injunction.
• The enforcement will likely rely on someone learning of a person assisting a pregnant woman in travel for a procedure to bring a suit, and is expected to function similarly to the six-week abortion ban, creating a chilling effect despite attracting few cases.
• Although the ordinance has seen widespread support among local residents, critics have raised concerns, citing potential constitutional rights violations, confusion, and the creation of fear-inducing barriers to essential health care, risking a backlash in upcoming elections.

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