In Review: Abortion restrictions in the 85th Texas Legislature

July 25--The 85th Texas Legislature passed some abortion restrictions during its regular session, but Gov. Greg Abbott is pushing for more.

Abbott included three separate abortion-related agenda items on his 20-item special session wish list that lawmakers will consider during the 30-day session.

What abortion-related laws did lawmakers pass during regular session?

Following grumbling by conservative Republicans about the slow pace of abortion-related bills in the Legislature, abortion-related Senate Bill 8 passed. It contained several distinct policies.

First, the bill mandates that fetal tissue be buried or cremated, regardless of whether it comes from a miscarriage or abortion.

RELATED: The 20 topics on the Texas Legislature's special session agenda

It also restricts a common procedure for second-trimester abortions, called "dismemberment abortions" by anti-abortion activists. Abortion providers have filed a lawsuit challenging this portion of the law.

SB 8 further bans medical research on fetal tissue from abortions and creates further penalties for buying and selling fetal body parts.

Some abortion-related bills did not pass, and Abbott added three to his special session. Here's how each of those issues fared during the regular session.

1. Prohibit local governments from using taxpayer money to pay any abortion providers

The House State Affairs Committee approved a bill that would have accomplished this, but it fell to the wayside later in the session.

2. Ban insurance coverage for abortion in private and government health plans

SB 20 would have prohibited insurance coverage for abortions in private or government plans, except for in cases of a medical emergency. Its author, Sen. Larry Taylor, R-Friendswood, said the bill would have ensured abortion opponents weren't paying for others' abortions.

RELATED: Reproductive rights activists hold 'Handmaid's Tale'-inspired protest at the Texas Capitol

After SB 20 stalled in the House, the Senate tried to save it by amending it to a separate bill. That effort again stalled in the House.

Ultimately, no legislation was passed on the issue for the second consecutive session.

3. Strengthen reporting requirements when health complications arise

The Texas House passed HB 2962, which would have required facilities that provide abortions to report complications related to the procedures. These statistics would compose the "complication rate," which has been a key point of contention in debate on past abortion regulations.

The Senate also passed a version of the bill, but it was not sent to Abbott for approval.

During special session, abortion regulations have begun to make their way through the Legislature.

About In Review: The Texas Legislature is back at the Capitol, and so is the American-Statesman. As the special session gets under way, we'll get you caught up on the biggest issues from Gov. Greg Abbott's agenda that the House and Senate are expected to take up over the 30-day session.

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