Relating to the protection of an unborn child's rights and criminal liability and justification for prohibited conduct.

HB 163 defines an unborn child as a human being from fertilization until birth for legal purposes, requiring Texas criminal and civil laws to apply equally to unborn children as to born individuals. The bill repeals existing laws that permitted "prenatal homicide" (harming an unborn child without criminal penalty) and that could be interpreted as allowing pressure on pregnant women to obtain abortions. It adds exceptions for lifesaving medical procedures to save a pregnant mother's life (when steps are taken to save the unborn child) and for spontaneous miscarriages. This would change how offenses against unborn children are treated in Texas courts, including in criminal prosecutions for causing harm or death.