Browsing: H.B. 2

U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel struck down one provision of Texas House Bill 2 Monday and limited another provision of it, blocking abortion laws that would have gone into effect today.

House Bill 2 was passed in July in the Texas Legislature, and would have placed various limitations on abortions and abortion clinics. Planned Parenthood and a collective body of other abortion administering clinics challenged this act on Sept. 26, claiming provisions of the bill are unconstitutional.

Gov. Rick Perry signed Texas House Bill 2 into law July 18. The bill, which will go into effect Oct. 29, places restrictions on abortion clinics. These restrictions have the potential to increase women’s health and safety during this procedure. While we support the right to life, this law is a step in the right direction.

Abortion clinics in Texas will not be allowed to administer abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, which is four weeks shy of the standard set by Roe v. Wade. The reasoning behind this statement is that the unborn child could potentially feel pain after the 20-week mark of pregnancy. This is reasonable, as research supports this claim.

Texas Planned Parenthood abortion providers and affiliates have filed a joint lawsuit in federal court to block two provisions of a recently passed bill, Texas House Bill 2, which would place certain restrictions on abortion clinics, effective Oct. 29. The case will be heard on Oct. 21.

“We are challenging the provisions of the bill that will have the most immediate and far-reaching impact on women in our community and in our state,” said Natalie Kelinske, media representative for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and Waco.