Texas Law Allows Lawsuits Against Abortion Pill Providers

Texas lawmakers have passed House Bill 7, a stringent anti-abortion measure empowering private citizens to sue anyone who manufactures, distributes, mails, or otherwise provides abortion medication to or from the state, with successful plaintiffs awarded a minimum of $100,000 in damages. The law exempts women who take abortion pills, even for miscarriage, as well as doctors, hospitals, postal workers, and transport companies in emergency or specified circumstances. The legislation aims to stop the trafficking of abortion pills into Texas, where abortion is banned except when the pregnant woman's life or vital functions are at risk, following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Supporters, including Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion groups, portray the law as a protective measure for unborn children and vulnerable women, while opponents warn it creates a surveillance system encouraging Texans to report neighbors and undermines social trust and privacy. The bill has drawn criticism for potentially extending Texas's abortion restrictions beyond its borders and sparking legal disputes with states protecting abortion providers. The bill now awaits the expected signature of Governor Greg Abbott, who prioritizes anti-abortion legislation in the special session.