Bill Text: TX SB257 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to exceptions to and the repeal of certain laws prohibiting abortion.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [SB257 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-SB257-Introduced.html
89R5252 JG-D | ||
By: Alvarado, et al. | S.B. No. 257 |
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relating to exceptions to and the repeal of certain laws | ||
prohibiting abortion. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Section 170A.002, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: | ||
(b-1) It is an exception to the application of Subsection | ||
(a) that the pregnant patient indicates the pregnancy resulted from | ||
sexual assault in violation of Section 22.011, Penal Code, | ||
aggravated sexual assault in violation of Section 22.021, Penal | ||
Code, or conduct constituting an offense under Section 25.02, Penal | ||
Code. This subsection may not be construed to require: | ||
(1) the pregnant patient to file a police or | ||
investigative report; | ||
(2) the pregnant patient to provide forensic evidence; | ||
or | ||
(3) prosecution of the alleged offense. | ||
SECTION 2. The heading to Section 171.205, Health and | ||
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 171.205. EXCEPTIONS [ |
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SECTION 3. Section 171.205, Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: | ||
(a-1) Sections 171.203 and 171.204 do not apply to an | ||
abortion performed or induced by a person in accordance with an | ||
exception provided by Section 170A.002. | ||
SECTION 4. Section 171.206(b), Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) This subchapter may not be construed to: | ||
(1) authorize the initiation of a cause of action | ||
against or the prosecution of a pregnant patient [ |
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abortion is performed or induced or attempted to be performed or | ||
induced in violation of this subchapter; | ||
(2) wholly or partly repeal, either expressly or by | ||
implication, any other statute that regulates or prohibits | ||
abortion[ |
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(3) restrict a political subdivision from regulating | ||
or prohibiting abortion in a manner that is at least as stringent as | ||
the laws of this state. | ||
SECTION 5. Section 171.207(b), Health and Safety Code, is | ||
amended to read as follows: | ||
(b) Subsection (a) may not be construed to: | ||
(1) legalize the conduct prohibited by this subchapter | ||
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(2) limit in any way or affect the availability of a | ||
remedy established by Section 171.208; or | ||
(3) limit the enforceability of any other laws that | ||
regulate or prohibit abortion. | ||
SECTION 6. Chapter 6-1/2, Title 71, Revised Statutes, is | ||
repealed. | ||
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |