Latest news with #HouseBill44
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Conservative lawmakers express concerns about bipartisan bill clarifying medical exceptions to Texas abortion law
Some conservative lawmakers at the Texas Capitol raised doubts about a new bill that won bipartisan support because it would clarify the medical exceptions to the state's near abortion ban; however, groups opposing and supporting abortion rights, Democrats and Republicans, worked on the language of the bill and said that's not the case. As Republican State Representative Charlie Geren of Fort Worth outlined House Bill 44 to the House Public Health Committee this week, he emphasized his record of opposing abortion. "I am not pro-choice," said Geren. "I have voted for every anti-abortion bill that's been in front of the House since I've been here for 24 years. This is not a choice bill. This is a protect the mother's life bill." The legislation comes after women filed suit against Texas claiming the near abortion ban left their doctors confused about the medical exceptions and delayed their care when confronted with complications to their pregnancies. The bill would not only allow an abortion to save the life of the mother, but also if the woman's major bodily function would be at risk. State Representative Mike Schofield, R-Katy, expressed concern during the hearing. "I think a lot of the pro-life community are worried that when you start making exceptions, they'll become checkboxes to get around and get right back to elective abortion on demand," said Schofield. "What's in the bill that protects against that?" Heather De La Garza Barone with the Texas Hospital Association said, "First and foremost, 170A prohibits abortions in Texas except in two cases: risk of death, risk of major impairment of bodily function. That is it." "We don't change the law with respect to reporting anytime there is a termination within the hospital setting," Lisa Kaufman with the Texas Civil Justice League said. "They're still going to have to report it. They're still going to have to document it." Another conservative lawmaker, Representative Katrina Pierson, R-Rockwall asked, "If the liability itself is removed and you're allowed to make the decision that you believe is the right decision to make at that point in time, why do we have to change the language of life-threatening because that's no longer an issue if penalties are removed?" "You can have a risk of major bodily function that is not life-threatening," said Kaufman. "The Medical Board and the Supreme Court have said that includes future fertility. So future fertility, though very sad, wouldn't necessarily be life-threatening." One Democratic lawmaker, Representative Lauren Ashley Simmons of Houston, said she resented some of the questions by conservatives. "I have a hard time sitting here and y'all being drilled this way," said Simmons. "It frustrates me because I remember having to make hard choices. I've had two very difficult pregnancies and I remember being on the way to the hospital and my husband and I had to have a conversation if I have to make the call, what do we do." While the bill clarifies the medical exceptions, doctors who perform abortions that should not have still face criminal charges, the loss of their medical licenses, fines, and civil lawsuits. After all the testimony, the bill was left pending in committee. The same bill in the Senate has also remained pending in committee. Watch Eye On Politics at 7:30 Sunday morning on CBS News Texas air and streaming
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas lawmakers consider bipartisan bill aimed at clarifying exceptions to state's abortion restrictions
Texas lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill to clarify the state's abortion ban, as many doctors have expressed concerns that the law is not clear about when they may step in to protect the life of the mother without committing a crime. The state has a near-total abortion ban, but doctors, using reasonable medical judgment, are permitted to take action in cases where a pregnant woman faces a life-threatening physical condition or substantial impairment of major bodily function. Now, the state legislature is seeking to pass a measure to clarify how narrow that exception is, which will give doctors a more clear idea of when they can intervene in situations where there are pregnancy complications. House Bill 44 and Senate Bill 31 are matching bills that have each been introduced in their respective chambers, with the Texas House Public Health Committee hearing testimony on Monday regarding the version in the lower chamber. Pro-life Activist Assaulted, Bloodied During Street Interview About Abortion "This is not someone who is six weeks and driving to Planned Parenthood because they don't want their baby," Catholic Conference of Bishops executive director Jennifer Alman said, according to FOX 4. Read On The Fox News App "This is a woman who very much wants her baby at 20 weeks and having a medical emergency where she has lost her child," Alman continued. "Even if it's not fully dead yet, her child is in the act of dying and the only way she can survive to parent her other children is to accept that death, protect her life and that is what the bill seeks to strike a balance of." The legislation, also called the Life of the Mother Act in both chambers, has brought together major pro-life groups, doctors, hospitals, Republicans and Democrats, said GOP Rep. Charlie Green, who authored the House version. "We know women's bodies have been horribly injured because doctors and hospitals are afraid to provide abortions that could save their bodies," Green said, according to FOX 4. "That's because some of the language in our current law is not clear to doctors and hospitals." Supreme Court Divided Over State Effort To Defund Planned Parenthood The lack of exceptions under Texas' abortion ban prompted a lawsuit brought by 20 women, according to FOX 4, though it was rejected by the state Supreme Court. The court also called on the Texas Medical Board to provide clarity for doctors on when an abortion may be permitted under state law. The medical board said its job is not to clarify the law, sending the issue back to lawmakers, the outlet reported. Some who testified expressed concerns that the legislation would allow a loophole in the abortion ban. On the other side, some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue the bill does not go far enough since it does not take into account fatal abnormalities of the fetus. Sarah Harrison said she was pregnant with twins when one of them had a fatal condition, according to FOX 4. "What if I got pregnant with twins again and I have to leave again? The trauma is real. It is real. It's intense. Of course, I feel scared to get pregnant in this state," she testified. Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat, said: "This bill does not include fetal abnormality. It does not include rape. But it does include a bipartisan approach to try to address the challenges." "I heard you guys say not sick enough. This bill does an important thing that does say you do not delay treatment. This bill does try to address that delay in time," she continued. The legislation appears to have enough support for article source: Texas lawmakers consider bipartisan bill aimed at clarifying exceptions to state's abortion restrictions
Fox News
08-04-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Texas lawmakers consider bipartisan bill aimed at clarifying exceptions to state's abortion restrictions
Texas lawmakers are considering a bipartisan bill to clarify the state's abortion ban, as many doctors have expressed concerns that the law is not clear about when they may step in to protect the life of the mother without committing a crime. The state has a near-total abortion ban, but doctors, using reasonable medical judgment, are permitted to take action in cases where a pregnant woman faces a life-threatening physical condition or substantial impairment of major bodily function. Now, the state legislature is seeking to pass a measure to clarify how narrow that exception is, which will give doctors a more clear idea of when they can intervene in situations where there are pregnancy complications. House Bill 44 and Senate Bill 31 are matching bills that have each been introduced in their respective chambers, with the Texas House Public Health Committee hearing testimony on Monday regarding the version in the lower chamber. "This is not someone who is six weeks and driving to Planned Parenthood because they don't want their baby," Catholic Conference of Bishops executive director Jennifer Alman said, according to FOX 4. "This is a woman who very much wants her baby at 20 weeks and having a medical emergency where she has lost her child," Alman continued. "Even if it's not fully dead yet, her child is in the act of dying and the only way she can survive to parent her other children is to accept that death, protect her life and that is what the bill seeks to strike a balance of." The legislation, also called the Life of the Mother Act in both chambers, has brought together major pro-life groups, doctors, hospitals, Republicans and Democrats, said GOP Rep. Charlie Green, who authored the House version. "We know women's bodies have been horribly injured because doctors and hospitals are afraid to provide abortions that could save their bodies," Green said, according to FOX 4. "That's because some of the language in our current law is not clear to doctors and hospitals." The lack of exceptions under Texas' abortion ban prompted a lawsuit brought by 20 women, according to FOX 4, though it was rejected by the state Supreme Court. The court also called on the Texas Medical Board to provide clarity for doctors on when an abortion may be permitted under state law. The medical board said its job is not to clarify the law, sending the issue back to lawmakers, the outlet reported. Some who testified expressed concerns that the legislation would allow a loophole in the abortion ban. On the other side, some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit argue the bill does not go far enough since it does not take into account fatal abnormalities of the fetus. Sarah Harrison said she was pregnant with twins when one of them had a fatal condition, according to FOX 4. "What if I got pregnant with twins again and I have to leave again? The trauma is real. It is real. It's intense. Of course, I feel scared to get pregnant in this state," she testified. Rep. Ann Johnson, a Democrat, said: "This bill does not include fetal abnormality. It does not include rape. But it does include a bipartisan approach to try to address the challenges." "I heard you guys say not sick enough. This bill does an important thing that does say you do not delay treatment. This bill does try to address that delay in time," she continued. The legislation appears to have enough support for approval.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
House Bill 44 aims to clarify exceptions to Texas' strict abortion law
The Brief A bill in the Texas House would provide clarity about medical exceptions to the state's restrictive abortion law. Supporters want clarity on which life-threatening emergencies would make it legally acceptable for a doctor to perform an abortion. Lawmakers heard testimony on HB 44 on Monday. DALLAS - After Texas lawmakers passed a near-total ban on abortions with no exceptions, many doctors feared they would be committing a crime if they intervened. House Bill 44 is a bipartisan bill that would clarify the law. But some argue it doesn't go far enough. What we know Dozens of people testified before the Texas House Public Health Committee on Monday, mostly in support of HB 44. The bill, authored by Fort Worth Republican Charlie Green, aims to provide clarity for doctors to know when they can step in during a pregnancy that has life-threatening complications. "The Life of the Mother Act has brought together all of the major pro-life groups, doctors, hospitals, Republicans, and Democrats," Green said. "We know women's bodies have been horribly injured because doctors and hospitals are afraid to provide abortions that could save their bodies. That's because some of the language in our current law is not clear to doctors and hospitals." The backstory For the past three years, since the near-total ban on Texas abortions went into effect, doctors and patients have faced uncertainty about the legal consequences. The lack of exceptions led to a lawsuit by 20 women. It was rejected by the Texas Supreme Court. However, the court also told the Texas Medical Board to provide clarity for doctors. The medical board said that's not its job, bringing the issue back to the legislature. What they're saying "This is not someone who is six weeks and driving to Planned Parenthood because they don't want their baby. This is a woman who very much wants her baby at 20 weeks and having a medical emergency where she has lost her child. Even if it's not fully dead yet, her child is in the act of dying and the only way she can survive to parent her other children is to accept that death, protect her life and that is what the bill seeks to strike a balance of," said Jennifer Alman, the executive director for the Catholic Conference of Bishops. The other side Some in the hearing worried that HB 44 would allow a loophole in the abortion ban. Some of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit also argue the bill does not go far enough because it doesn't account for fatal abnormalities of the fetus. Sarah Harrison was pregnant with twins. One of them had a fatal condition. "What if I got pregnant with twins again and I have to leave again? The trauma is real. It is real. It's intense. Of course, I feel scared to get pregnant in this state," she told lawmakers. "This bill does not include fetal abnormality. It does not include rape. But it does include a bipartisan approach to try to address the challenges. I heard you guys say not sick enough. This bill does an important thing that does say you do not delay treatment. This bill does try to address that delay in time," said Rep. Ann Johnson of Houston. What's next Lawmakers are still hearing testimony on the bill. There is also a companion bill in the Texas Senate. There appears to be enough bipartisan support to get it across the finish line. The Source The information in this story comes from State Rep. Charlie Green of Fort Worth and testimony given during Monday's Texas House Public Health Committee hearing on HB 44.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bipartisan support for Texas bill clarifying when doctors can perform an abortion shows early cracks
The initial and enthusiastic bipartisan support to clarify Texas' abortion laws is hitting the realities of the legislative process, as forces from each side of the debate raise concerns. At a House committee meeting Monday, conservative lawmakers questioned the need for this clarification and whether doctors would use it as a workaround to provide 'elective abortions on demand,' as Katy Rep. Mike Schofield put it. At the same time, Democrats and abortion access advocates pushed for an amendment to ensure the bill didn't accidentally revive the possibility of prosecuting women who have abortions, or those who assist someone in traveling out of state to terminate. On its face, House Bill 44 and its companion, Senate Bill 31, is straightforward legislation. It does not expand abortion access but rather aims to harmonize Texas' various abortion statutes and clarify at what point doctors can perform an abortion to save a pregnant patient's life or prevent the loss of major bodily function, like future fertility. The legislation has garnered widespread support from anti-abortion groups, health care officials, medical associations and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. 'It's simple: We do not want women to die from medical emergencies during their pregnancies,' Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, said as he introduced the bill Monday. 'We don't want women's lives to be destroyed because their bodies have been seriously impaired by medical emergencies during their pregnancies.' The carefully negotiated bill received a warm reception from a Senate committee, but just 10 days later, House committee members took a sharper tone, showing just how complicated Texas' abortion laws are — and how difficult addressing these controversial statutes can be. Both the House and Senate committees are expected to vote whether to move the legislation to the floor in the coming days. A major barrier to amending Texas' abortion laws is that not everyone can agree on what Texas' abortion laws are. The two modern laws are clear: one prohibits performing, aiding or abetting abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, and the other prohibits performing an abortion from the moment of conception, punishable by up to 99 years in prison. Both have an exception to save the life of the pregnant patient, and neither allows criminalizing the person who has the abortion. The issue is with a much older, vaguer law. Passed in 1857, this law makes it a crime to perform or 'furnish the means' for an abortion, and does not exempt the person who has the abortion from criminal charges. This law was in effect until the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional in Roe v. Wade in 1973, and remained on the books, unenforceable, ever since. When Roe was overturned in 2022, Attorney General Ken Paxton claimed these laws were back in effect, an argument conservative lawmakers and anti-abortion lawyers have made repeatedly in the three years since. On the other side, abortion advocates and their lawyers cite several federal court rulings that say the laws are 'repealed by implication' and remain unenforceable, including a 2023 ruling that said groups that fund out-of-state abortions are likely safe from prosecution under this law. That case is ongoing. Amending this statute as part of the clarifying law runs the risk of reviving it and risking potential criminalization of pregnant women and those who help them get abortions, several people argued at the hearing Monday. 'It would criminalize pregnant women who obtain any abortion other than one performed in a medical emergency,' Elizabeth Myers, an attorney who represents abortion funds, testified, adding that this law 'would criminalize friends and family who provide information or money for Texas women who leave the state.' Geren, as well as the anti-abortion groups who testified, said there was no intention to use this bill to revive the pre-Roe law. Joe Pojman, with Texas Alliance for Life, said he was 'baffled' when this question came up. John Seago, with Texas Right to Life, said there was no need to use this bill to revive the old law, as his group believes it is still in effect. Rep. Ann Johnson, a Houston Democrat who has signed onto this bill as co-author, raised the prospect of an amendment that would remove the consequences of reviving the 1925 law. Steve Bresnen, a health care lobbyist who led the effort to draft the bill, said they'd committed to adding no amendments unless the disparate groups agreed to them. Pojman testified that his group would support an amendment that clarified the legislative intent was not to revive the 1925 laws. Seago was more cagey, saying he didn't want to weigh in while negotiations were ongoing, but said there are amendments circulating on the Senate side that would specifically exclude criminalizing the pregnant woman. 'That's a better way of going at it,' he told The Texas Tribune. 'But there's a list of amendments to be debated in the Senate that we're negotiating on, and that's why I don't want to jump out of line and commit to anything.' Seago's group is also behind Senate Bill 2880, a wide-ranging abortion crackdown that would make it a felony to pay for someone to travel out of state for an abortion. If that passes, he said, there would be no need for the 'furnish the means' language that's in the pre-Roe statutes. 'I think people are hoping they can just get this bill and no other pro-life bills,' he said. 'That would not be sufficient to me, and we've communicated that to leadership on both sides.' Monday's hearing revealed more details on how this bill came to be, after nearly three years of Republican leaders insisting the laws did not need to be clarified. Steve and Amy Bresnen, two health care lobbyists and lawyers, previously petitioned the Texas Medical Board to offer more clarification to doctors. Disappointed by the response they received from that body, the duo turned to the work of crafting clarifying legislation. The bill was closely negotiated between the medical associations and anti-abortion groups to ensure it is offering doctors more guidance without expanding abortion access, Steve Bresnen said Monday. 'This bill was tightly drafted so we didn't have every abortion battle in the world on the House floor,' he said. But that wasn't enough to fully quell conservative backlash. Reps. Mike Olcott and Katrina Pierson repeatedly questioned how many times doctors delayed or denied medical care due to confusion over the laws, how many women had died, and whether these clarifications were necessary. 'I think everyone in this room wants to protect the life of the mother, and many of us want to protect the life of the unborn as well,' Olcott, a Fort Worth Republican, said. 'I'm just wondering where this came from.' He said he was worried this was creating a 'checkbox' for doctors to get around the strict laws. 'When abortion was legal, the abortionists were physicians,' he said. 'So what prevents just getting around the intent of the law by just having abortion on demand and checking a box, going 'yes, the major bodily function could be an issue'?' Doctors, lawyers, hospital administrators and anti-abortion groups testified repeatedly that abortion is fully banned and will remain so, with only this narrow exception in cases of significant medical distress. Geren, a staunch anti-abortion Republican, and Johnson, a proudly pro-abortion Democrat, both reiterated that this was not a 'pro-choice bill' aimed at expanding abortion access. 'I have voted for every anti-abortion bill that's been in front of the house since I've been here for 24 years,' Geren said. 'This is not a choice bill. This is a protect-the-mothers'-life bill.' Tickets are on sale now for the 15th annual Texas Tribune Festival, Texas' breakout ideas and politics event happening Nov. 13–15 in downtown Austin. Get tickets before May 1 and save big! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase.
