Bill > HB30

This bill, known as the Woman and Child Protection Act, creates a comprehensive framework for regulating abortion-inducing drugs in Texas, primarily through a novel qui tam enforcement mechanism. The bill prohibits the manufacture, distribution, mailing, transportation, delivery, prescription, or provision of abortion-inducing drugs in Texas, with specific exceptions for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and removing deceased unborn children. Notably, the bill allows any person (except state employees or political subdivisions) to bring a civil lawsuit against anyone who violates these prohibitions, with potential statutory damages of at least $100,000 per violation. The legislation includes significant procedural protections, such as limiting jurisdictional challenges, preventing coordinated enforcement, and establishing exclusive appellate jurisdiction for the Fifteenth Court of Appeals. The bill also includes provisions to protect Texas residents from potential "clawback" lawsuits from other states seeking to penalize individuals involved in abortion-related actions, and grants the Attorney General parens patriae standing to bring actions on behalf of unborn children. Additionally, the bill amends existing laws to modify attorney's fees provisions in abortion-related litigation and includes a severability clause to ensure that if any part of the law is found invalid, the remaining provisions will remain in effect. The law is set to take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply only to causes of action that accrue on or after that date.