Bill > HB2

This bill establishes new regulations for abortion procedures, providers, and facilities in Texas, including penalties for violations. It prohibits abortions at or after 20 weeks post-fertilization, based on the finding that unborn children can feel pain by that stage, with exceptions for abortions necessary to save the life or preserve the health of the pregnant woman, or for severe fetal abnormalities. Physicians performing abortions must have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital and provide patients with contact information for post-procedure assistance and the nearest emergency hospital. The bill also mandates specific protocols for the use of abortion-inducing drugs, requiring physician examination, documentation of gestational age and pregnancy location, provision of drug information, and a follow-up visit within 14 days to confirm termination and assess bleeding. Additionally, abortion facilities must meet minimum standards equivalent to those for ambulatory surgical centers, and reporting requirements for abortions will now include the probable post-fertilization age of the unborn child instead of the period of gestation. The bill also clarifies that it does not authorize the prosecution of a woman on whom an abortion is performed.