Texas Bill Prohibiting ‘Late-Term’ Abortions Due to Genetic Abnormalities (HB 87)

Current Texas law prohibits a person from intentionally or knowingly performing an abortion on a woman who is pregnant with a viable “unborn child” during the third trimester of the pregnancy unless the physician determines:

• the fetus is not a viable fetus and the pregnancy is not in the third trimester;
• the abortion is necessary to prevent the death or a substantial risk of serious impairment to the physical or mental health of the woman; or
• the fetus has a severe and irreversible abnormality, identified by reliable diagnostic procedures.

HB 87 would remove the exemption for severe and irreversible abnormalities.

The bill would also amend current law which allows for state tax revenue to be used solely for abortions necessary due to medical emergencies. HB 87 would remove “fetus has a severe fetal abnormality” from the listed medical emergency exemptions.

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