Overview

• Lawmakers approved the measure on a party-line vote and sent it to the Republican-led Senate, where a vote is expected next week before it heads to Gov. Greg Abbott.
• HB 7 authorizes private lawsuits against out-of-state prescribers, manufacturers, distributors and shippers of abortion medication to Texans, even if no abortion occurs or the plaintiff has no connection to the patient.
• Successful plaintiffs can recover up to $100,000 per violation, with the full amount reserved for the pregnant person or close relatives, while others are capped at $10,000 and the remainder is directed to a charity.
• The bill includes carve-outs shielding Texas hospitals, in-state physicians, and the use or distribution of the drugs for emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, miscarriages or stillbirths, and it bars some abusers from suing and limits disclosure of medical information.
• Legal experts expect immediate interstate clashes with blue-state shield laws and fresh federal court fights, as Texas officials—including Attorney General Ken Paxton—escalate actions to curb access to mailed abortion pills.