Texas Bill Relating to Sonogram Requirements for Pregnant People Seeking an Abortion (SB 2145)

SB 2145 would remove certain exceptions to state law requiring a pregnant person receive a verbal explanation of the results of the sonogram images prior to the performance of an abortion.

Current state law allows a pregnant person to choose not to receive the verbal explanation of the results of the sonogram images if:

• the pregnancy is a result of a sexual assault or incest that has been reported to law enforcement (unless the patient has not reported it due to a belief that doing so would put them at risk of retaliation resulting in serious bodily injury);
• the pregnant person is a minor who has obtained judicial bypass; or
• the fetus has an irreversible medical condition or abnormality.

The bill would remove the exceptions for an unreported sexual assault or incest, a minor obtaining an abortion in accordance with judicial bypass procedures, and when a fetus has an irreversible medical condition or abnormality.

Informed Consent

Current state law requires physicians to inform pregnant people seeking an abortion certain information in order to obtain informed consent. Included in that information is that public and private agencies provide pregnancy prevention counseling and medical referrals for obtaining pregnancy prevention medications or devices, including emergency contraception for victims of rape or incest. The bill would remove the language regarding emergency contraception for victims of rape or incest.

Latest Action

3/8/19 – Introduced.

People