Overview

• The Texas Senate voted 31-0 to pass SB 31, which clarifies when doctors can legally perform abortions to save a pregnant patient’s life.
• The bill specifies that doctors can intervene in life-threatening conditions, manage ectopic pregnancies, and address miscarriages without delay or fear of legal repercussions.
• SB 31 mandates training for physicians and lawyers on the law, to be developed and provided by the Texas Medical Board, to reduce care delays caused by legal uncertainty.
• Critics note the measure excludes exceptions for rape, incest, and fetal anomalies, leaving some patients without options in dire circumstances.
• The Senate also gave initial approval to SB 2880, which seeks to increase penalties for distributing abortion pills and expand civil liabilities for related offenses.