Lawmaker introduces bill to abolish abortion in Texas

A Texas lawmaker has proposed a bill that would abolish abortion in the state and criminalize those who are involved in the procedure.

Last Wednesday, Rep. Tony Tinderholt filed House Bill 948 or the Abolition of Abortion in Texas Act, which would amend the state code to declare that a child's life begins at the "moment of fertilization."

The legislation would allow abortion practitioners and women who obtain abortions to be charged with murder except in cases when the mother's life is at risk. The bill carries no exceptions for fetal abnormality or rape, The Star-Telegram reported.

Critics have described the bill as the "most extreme measure" in the Legislature this year.

"It takes away a pregnant person's legal rights and could open up to investigation and prosecution of anyone who has a miscarriage or who seeks an abortion," said Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas.

"When politicians criminalize safe medical procedures, they put patients' health and safety at risk. HB948 strips away our constitutional right to abortion," she added.

The proposal came when Republicans in Texas and Tarrant County called for an end to abortion.

Tinderholt said that the bill was proposed in response to the language in the platform of the Republican Party of Texas calling for the abolition of abortion in the state.

"We call upon the Texas legislature to enact legislation stopping the murder of unborn children; and to ignore and refuse to enforce any and all federal statutes, regulations, executive orders, and court rulings, which would deprive an unborn child of the right to life," the text read.

Tinderholt said that he has asked lawmakers from other states to carry similar measures. He plans to introduce another abortion-related bill that addresses state-issued health licenses.

Several abortion-related bills have already been filed in Texas this session. State Rep. Stephanie Klick has recently introduced House Bill 844 or the Dismemberment Abortion Ban, which is aimed at prohibiting abortions in which a fetus is extracted one piece at a time.

Other proposals that were filed deal with issues ranging from health benefit plan coverage for abortions to the waiting period before a physician may perform an abortion.