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

HB 2197 redefines "individual" in Texas law to include unborn children from fertilization, extending criminal and civil protections to them under existing laws. It repeals provisions allowing "wilful prenatal homicide" and removes legal barriers that could permit coercion to obtain abortions. The bill applies criminal penalties equally to harm against unborn children or born individuals, with exceptions for lifesaving medical procedures performed on pregnant people when reasonable efforts are made to save the unborn child. This directly affects pregnant people, medical providers, and the criminal justice system by altering how fetal harm is treated under Texas law.