East Texas town with no abortion clinics passes ordinance attempting to ban the procedure
Waskom declared itself a "sanctuary city for the unborn." City leaders acknowledged that the decision will likely lead to a lawsuit. Full Story
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![The Waskom City Council.]()
Credit: Screenshot via ArkLaTex News -
Texas passes bill banning cities from partnering with Planned Parenthood on any services
The bill would prohibit such partnerships, even for services not related to abortions. Abortion rights advocates worry that the bill's broad language could even halt privately funded programs held on government property. Full Story
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![Planned Parenthood advocates rally outside of the Capitol on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Tinkering with the 2020 elections in the Texas Legislature
The power of incumbency is more than raising money for campaigns and having a well-known political name. Changing the state's election laws — or even debating issues that resonate strongly with voters — can set the rules and frame the arguments for the next election cycle. Full Story
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![Voter wait in line outside Marshall Middle School, one of several polling places in Houston being kept open an hour longer after polls opened late with issues including election machine technical problems that caused delays in voting.]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House advances bill banning cities from partnering with Planned Parenthood on any services
Senate Bill 22 bars Texas governments from contracting with abortion providers or their affiliates — even for services like sexual health education and pregnancy prevention initiatives. Full Story
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![A bipartisan group of state legislators, medical professionals and abortion advocates gathered at the Capitol in opposition to SB22. The group claims the bill would reduce funding for abortion providers. May 17, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Texas lawmakers close to sending “born alive” abortion bill to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk
Republicans in the Texas Senate passed the bill Thursday with the support of two Democrats. If the Texas House concurs with minor changes the Senate made to the measure, it will go to the governor. Full Story
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![Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano speaks at a press conference to announce the filing of the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act on March 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / The Texas Tribune -
Why Texas abortion opponents aren’t leading the charge to overturn Roe v. Wade
States across the country are advancing "heartbeat bills" that aim to overturn the landmark Supreme Court decision, but major Texas anti-abortion groups are worried that such an approach could backfire. Full Story
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![Pro-Life advocates at the Rally for Life march at the Capitol on Jan. 27, 2018.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate removes exception that allows abortion after 20 weeks if the pregnancy is unviable
The bill would also prevent what abortion opponents call "discriminatory abortions" — where a woman or a doctor pursues an abortion on the basis of the fetus' sex, race or disability. Full Story
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![State Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, during a February 21, 2018 Interim Committee on Higher Education Formula Funding.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate advances bill requiring pre-abortion counseling
Supporters say the measure would prevent women from regretting an abortion after they have the procedure. But abortion rights advocates fear the bill lacks key protections, like a requirement for the counselor to be a licensed medical professional. Full Story
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![Action on Friday at the second day of the Texas Republican Convention in San Antonio as Senate candidate Angela Paxton waves to the crowd. June 15, 2018.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Texas House approves “born alive” abortion bill
The House tentatively signed off on a bill Tuesday that would grant legal protections to babies born after failed abortion attempts, though such instances are extremely rare. Full Story
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![Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano speaks at a press conference to announce the filing of the Texas Born-Alive Infant Protection Act on March 7, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
This Republican Texas lawmaker halted a bill to outlaw abortion. He now faces security concerns, sheriff says.
State Rep. Jeff Leach said a bill that criminalizes abortion will not advance beyond the committee he chairs. Full Story
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![State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, on the House floor on April 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribune -
Texas Senate moves to block local governments from partnering with abortion providers
Supporters say Senate Bill 22 would terminate "sweetheart rent deals," but abortion rights advocates say the legislation is the latest attempt in the legislature's years-long battle to reduce funding for abortion providers. Full Story
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![Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels, answers questions about Senate Bill 6 on July 26, 2017.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The House passes its budget — civilly
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ayan, Emma, Cassi and Patrick about the House’s big night tackling the next biennial budget, a repeat performance by corporate opponents of last session’s "bathroom bill" and the anti-abortion legislation moving in the Capitol. Full Story
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![The debate on HB-1, the House state budget bill, continues into its 12th hour as members gather to confer with the House Parliamentarian on March 27, 2019.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
Three Texas abortion bills pass committees, gaining momentum in Senate
Anti-abortion bills have gathered steam in the upper chamber — including a proposal to limit local funding for abortion providers and another to protect infants born alive after an abortion. Full Story
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![Anti-abortion advocates at the Rally for Life march in Austin on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2018.]()
Credit: Shelby Knowles for The Texas Tribune -
Debate over Texas abortion bill prompts tears, frustration and a boycott from Democrats
The hearing on a bill regarding "the rights of a living child born after an abortion" was delayed Monday morning due to a lack of a quorum. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Guns are popular with Texans, and so are “red flag” laws, says UT/TT Poll
A strong majority of Texans told the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll that judges should be allowed to temporarily take guns away from people deemed dangerous to themselves or others. Full Story
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A Texas legislative session without an abortion fight? Unlikely.
Despite the fact that lawmakers have so far been focused on bipartisan "bread and butter" issues like property taxes and school finance, more than a dozen abortion-related bills are circulating in the state Capitol. Full Story
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![A hallway at the Whole Woman's Health clinic in Austin, which shut down in 2014.]()
Credit: Callie Richmond for The Texas Tribune -
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking more power this session to prosecute voter fraud and abortion-related crimes
Paxton's office has asked lawmakers for millions more in funding and expanded jurisdiction to go after certain crimes. Critics say the requests are aimed at political gains. Full Story
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![Ken Paxton at the inauguration ceremony of Judge Michelle Slaughter at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 11, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Federal appeals court lifts order blocking Texas from kicking Planned Parenthood out of Medicaid
Texas moved to exclude Planned Parenthood from Medicaid years ago after a highly-edited video from an anti-abortion group suggested abortion providers sold fetal tissue. Full Story
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![Group of Planned Parenthood supporters outside the Texas Capitol on July 29, 2015 on the morning when the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services was being held]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
As judge weighs the fate of a sweeping Texas abortion lawsuit, confusion remains
Amid a packed Austin courtroom Monday, U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel told attorneys he was confused by their arguments in a sweeping lawsuit challenging dozens of Texas abortion laws. Full Story
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![Abortion access advocates pose for a photograph outside of the U.S. District Court in Austin. The court is set to weigh in on whether abortion funds and health care providers can challenge restrictions to abortion access. Miguel Gutierrez Jr. / Texas Tribune.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
At federal appeals court, Texas asks to enforce its ban on a common abortion procedure
Texas state attorneys and lawyers for the Center for Reproductive Rights and Planned Parenthood argued over a law that would ban abortions in which a doctor uses surgical instruments to grasp and remove pieces of fetal tissue. Full Story
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![The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal in New Orleans on Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2018.]()
Credit: Cheryl Gerber for The Texas Tribune