Texas is now the largest state in the nation to put into place abortion laws giving a victory to Republican lawmakers and pro-life activists across the state.
Abortion after 6 weeks was already banned in Texas by the Fetal Heartbeat bill signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott in 2021.
However, the new abortion law, which went into effect on Thursday, restricts abortions from the moment of fertilization unless the life of the mother is in danger or the mother is facing “a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy.”
Violations of the law are punishable by a fine of at least $100,000 and a prison sentence of up to life.
The law was ‘triggered’ after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its judgment in Dobbs v. Jackson, the case that overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed states to set their own laws about abortion.
It was passed in 2021 and designed to go into effect 30 days after the decision by SCOTUS.
It is now a second-degree felony in Texas “for a person who knowingly performs, induces, or attempts an abortion.” It becomes a first-degree felony “if the unborn child dies as a result of the offense.”
Texas is one of more than a dozen states that had trigger laws in place.
