Texas moves to ban taxpayer-funded abortion travel: 'It's time for us to get stern'
Senate Bill 33, authored by Republican state Sen. Donna Campbell of New Braunfels, builds on a 2019 law that prohibits public entities from contracting with abortion care providers such as Planned Parenthood, including for services unrelated to pregnancy termination. The Texas House passed the measure with an 87-58 vote, with two Democratic members joining their GOP colleagues to approve the bill. The Senate passed the measure with a 22-9 vote in April.
The proposal is all but certain to affect Austin, whose City Council allocated $400,000 to provide logistical support, such as lodging and travel expenses, to residents who terminate their pregnancies outside of Texas.
The bill's House sponsor, state Rep. Candy Noble, R-Lucas, said the legislation will ensure public money isn't "spent on an activity that is illegal in Texas."
"Our goal, always, in this room, is to have our laws followed when we pass them," Noble said on the House floor. "We don't want to be litigious, but when a city decides to clearly circumvent the intent of a law passed by the Texas Legislature, it's time for us to get stern."
Austin City Council Member Vanessa Fuentes, who led the city's effort to fund abortion travel, called the measure an attack on local control.
"This law sends a clear message that Austinites don't deserve the freedom to make personal medical decisions or the right to (enact) policies shaped by our values," Fuentes said in a statement. "It's shameful, it's wrong, and only deepens the reproductive health crisis Texans are already facing.'
SB 33 would authorize not only the state's attorney general but also any Texas resident to sue cities and other public entities that violate the law. If a lawsuit succeeds, the plaintiff would be entitled to seek declaratory relief, injunctive relief, court costs and attorney's fees from the defendant.
Once signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, the bill would go into effect in September.
Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Austin last year over its allocation of funds for abortion travel, citing an existing statute. The suit remains unresolved.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Legislature passes bill to ban Austin's abortion travel fund
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