Healthcare (Women's Health)

HB 7, the Woman and Child Protection Act, prohibits the manufacture and provision of abortion-inducing drugs in Texas while limiting legal actions against certain local providers. It creates new legal protections for Texas-based hospitals, health facilities, and providers who practice exclusively within the state, shielding them from civil lawsuits under this law. The bill also restricts courts outside Texas from enforcing judgments related to abortion drugs and allows private citizens to file lawsuits ("qui tam actions") against violators. It directly affects drug manufacturers, pharmacies, and healthcare entities offering abortion-inducing drugs, but excludes Texas hospitals, state facilities, and in-state-only providers from liability. The law takes effect immediately upon the governor’s signature.

SB 7 creates civil liability for manufacturers and providers of abortion-inducing drugs, with key exemptions for medical emergencies, ectopic pregnancies, and spontaneous miscarriages. It allows private citizens to file lawsuits (qui tam actions) seeking damages against those supplying such drugs, while modifying fee-shifting rules in abortion litigation. The bill also grants the Texas attorney general expanded authority to pursue cases under the "Woman and Child Protection Act" and alters jurisdiction for related court cases. It does not restrict medical procedures covered by the specified exemptions.

HB 82 prohibits the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs within Texas, targeting individuals or entities that manufacture, mail, transport, deliver, prescribe, or provide such drugs. It directly affects abortion providers, distributors, and those who facilitate access to these drugs, while excluding internet service providers, search engines, and cloud service providers from liability under the law. The bill creates a private civil right of action, allowing individuals to sue violators for damages related to the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs. These provisions are codified under the new "Women and Child Protection Act" in the Health and Safety Code.

HB 80 imposes civil liability on individuals or entities distributing abortion-inducing drugs and requires internet service providers to take specific actions related to such content. The bill creates a new criminal offense for violations and authorizes private individuals to file civil lawsuits for breaches of the law. This legislation directly affects distributors of abortion drugs, internet service providers, and those involved in civil litigation under the new provisions. Note: Specific details of the internet service provider duties and criminal offense are not provided in the available bill text.

This bill requires physicians to be physically present in Texas during an in-person examination when providing abortion-inducing drugs to patients. It directly affects physicians who prescribe these drugs within Texas, prohibiting remote or telemedicine provision. The key mechanism mandates that a physician must be in the state and examine the patient at the time of drug administration, as specified in amended Health and Safety Code Section 171.063(b). Exceptions for out-of-state consultations (e.g., for non-abortion medical services) do not apply to abortion-inducing drugs, as clarified in amended Occupations Code Section 151.056(b-1).