There are just weeks left in the 89th Texas Legislature’s regular session, which is scheduled to adjourn on June 2nd. This final stretch is critical, as lawmakers work to pass key legislation before the session ends, and as we fight to kill some really bad bills alongside our partner organizations. These bills would make life even harder for Texans who need abortions. 

We’ll be working through the end of session and beyond to ensure extremist politicians at the Capitol know that abortion funds like Lilith Fund are not going anywhere and that abortion access matters to Texans. 

What we’re doing 

During this legislative session, we have been organizing with our movement partners to fix or to kill three bad bills that would have been devastating to pregnant Texans. We’ve had some wins already but there is still a way to go. Here are the bills we are fighting. 

SB 31 

• Dubbed the “Exemption” Bill, claims to clarify when doctors can legally provide life-saving abortion care during medical emergencies. 
• WIN – despite a lot of early resistance, we were able to push legislators to amend SB 31 and the house companion, HB 44 to decrease the risk that the bill would revive a pre-Roe abortion ban that would criminalize abortion funds, support networks, and even pregnant people themselves for seeking abortion care. Our strategically timed Texas Abortion Funds Advocacy Day brought almost 90 Texans to meet with 37 legislators largely about the importance of fixing this bill. 
• REMAINING CONCERNS – We still believe that no exception bill will ever undo the harm of the total abortion ban, and we urge lawmakers to include stronger language that would protect pregnant Texans without a doubt.

SB 33 

• SB 33 blocks cities from funding abortion logistical support, bans abortion funds and practical support organizations from receiving public dollars to fund abortion or logistical support for out of state abortions. It also allows the Attorney General or private citizens to sue entities that violate this ban. 
• WIN – The bill author Sen. Campbell amended the bill to make it more narrow and to no longer ban abortion funds/practical support orgs from receiving local taxpayer dollars for non-abortion related work. We believe this change is due at least in part to our Texas Abortion Funds Advocacy Day meeting with Sen. Campbell where our abortion storyteller and Organizing Director, both vocal advocates for the San Antonio Reproductive Justice Fund, explained to the bill author about the harms of this bill. 
• REMAINING CONCERNS – This bill is still a blatant attack on local control that would disproportionately harm the most marginalized Texans who are not able to travel outside of the state without practical support. 

SB 2880 

• SB 2880 and its house companion HB 5510 would dangerously expand the Attorney General’s power to enforce “abortion crimes,” allowing the AG to sue anyone who has an abortion or who helps someone get an abortion no matter where the abortion occurs. It would also allow anyone to sue anyone who helps someone get a medication abortion no matter where that abortion occurs..
• WIN – After lots of organizing and testimony against this bill and its House companion, it no longer makes the work we do as abortion funds a crime. 
• REMAINING CONCERNS – This bill would create confusion, isolate pregnant Texans, and could scare even people outside of the state from helping pregnant Texans access abortion for fear of harassing lawsuits. This is scary government overreach that attempts to get Texas law to apply nationwide and to undermine Shield Laws.

Rosie’s Law – HB 1098/SB 359

• Rosie’s Law is a transformative policy that would increase Texans’ access to reproductive healthcare by restoring health insurance coverage of abortion care and expanding coverage of contraceptive care. 
• WINS – This session our Rosie’s Law Coalition celebrated our first ever bicameral early bill filing with a press event, educated lawmakers about Rosie’s Law at our first ever in person legislative briefing, and urged lawmakers to co-author Rosie’s Law at our biggest ever Texas Abortion Funds Advocacy Day. We have also mobilized people across Texas at our multi-city postcard parties where people have been able to hand write postcards to their legislators urging them to co-author Rosie’s Law. 

What you can do

• Call the Calendars Committee Chair Todd Hunter and demand he block SB 33!
  • Here’s a sample script: “Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I’m a Texas resident calling to ask Calendars Committee Chairman Hunter to keep  SB 33 off the House calendar. This bill is a blatant attack on local control and free speech. I urge the Chairman to block SB 33. Thank you.”
• Call your Representative and ask them to vote “NO” on SB 33 & SB 2880
  • Here’s a sample script: “Hi, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent of [Your Legislator]. I’m calling to urge the [Representative] to vote NO on SB 33 and SB 2880 if they come to the floor. These bills are misguided and would be harmful to Texans across the state. Please stand with Texans and oppose both measures. Thank you.”

Finally, please sign the petition to urge your legislators to co-author Rosie’s Law!

As we fight back each challenge and through it all, our hotline team continues to provide funding for clients needing reproductive health care like ultrasounds, contraception, and STI testing while also funding abortion care for clients traveling out of Texas to states where abortion is legal. If you have $10, $25, or more to support our hotline please consider making your donation today.