June 21, 2021

Texas Gov. Signs Trigger Law Banning Abortion if Roe v. Wade is Overturned

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R)
Last Thursday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed a bill banning all abortions if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade.

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that legalized abortion nationwide, each state will have the ability to decide whether abortion is legal within its borders.

HB 1280, otherwise known as The Human Life Protection Act, would make Texas one of the first states to outlaw abortion if Roe v. Wade is overturned. That could happen soon, since the Supreme Court agreed last month that it will hear Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. That case concerns a Mississippi law that bans abortion at 15 weeks gestation.

If the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, Texas HB 1280 comes into effect 30 days later. All abortions in the state will become illegal to the extent that the new court ruling allows. The law does have exceptions for when a mother's life is at risk.

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