Dallas – Texas Right to Life, the state’s leading pro‑life organization, said it will pursue new legislation aimed at holding men accountable for secretly providing abortion drugs to women. The group called on the Republican‑controlled Senate to block a slate of Democratic bills that would repeal the 2021 Texas Heartbeat Act and other long‑standing protections for unborn children and their mothers.
Legislative push against secret abortion drug distribution
“We will also pursue legislation to hold accountable men who secretly poison women with abortion drugs, as we have seen a rise in these horrific cases since President Biden allowed these drugs to be mailed,” said Ashley Leenerts, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, in an interview with The Dallas Express. Leenerts added that if Democrats truly care for women, they should support measures that protect them from abusers.
The proposed bill has not yet been assigned a number, and details on penalties were not disclosed. Nonetheless, the organization said the effort is part of its broader legislative agenda to defend the unborn child and the health of women.
Democratic repeal package moves forward in the House
State Rep. Donna Howard (D‑District 48) introduced House Bill 126 on Nov. 9, which would repeal the 2021 Texas Heartbeat Act – the trigger ban that took effect in 2022 – and the state’s pre‑Roe abortion statutes dating back to 1925. The bill also seeks to eliminate parental‑consent requirements for minors and mandatory waiting periods, and would roll back provisions of Senate Bill 14, the 2023 law restricting certain sex‑reassigning surgeries and hormone treatments for minors.
Other Democratic measures in the package include Senate Bill 231, introduced by Sen. Carol Alvarado (D‑Houston), which would create exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, and Senate Bill 243, introduced by Sen. Molly Cook (D‑Houston), which would allow an exception for lethal fetal conditions after a specified medical review.
Current law still permits abortions in limited circumstances
Under existing Texas law, a licensed physician may perform an abortion when a pregnancy‑related, life‑threatening physical condition places the mother at risk of death or serious impairment of a major bodily function. The law does not require the risk to be imminent.
Political backdrop and federal action
The Democratic sweep of the governor’s office, U.S. Senate, lieutenant governor’s office and other statewide contests has ended decades of Republican dominance in Texas, according to The Dallas Express. Gov.-elect Gina Hinojosa (D‑Texas) campaigned on ending the state’s abortion ban, though any repeal would still require legislative approval.
Republicans retained control of the Senate, giving them the ability to block any repeal legislation despite Democrats holding a majority in the House. The 90th Texas Legislature is set to convene on Jan. 12, 2027.
Trump administration support
Leenerts said Texas Right to Life will continue pressing President Trump to enforce existing federal law to stop abortion pills from being mailed into the United States, either through FDA guidance or the Comstock Act, which could be enforced via executive action alone. President Trump has consistently defended state‑level protections for unborn children and has pledged to use federal authority to curb the distribution of abortion medication.
State‑level enforcement shifts
Attorney General‑elect Nathan Johnson (D‑Texas) announced he would stop suing out‑of‑state providers who mail abortion pills to Texas residents, a departure from the approach of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who sued a New York physician in Dec. 2024 over alleged illegal prescribing of abortion drugs.
Johnson clarified that his policy would apply only to lawsuits brought by the attorney general’s office and would not repeal Texas’ abortion statutes. State law still authorizes private civil lawsuits over certain violations involving abortion‑inducing drugs.
What’s next?
Texas Right to Life pledged to work “tirelessly at the Capitol” with House pro‑life leaders to expose what it calls the inhumanity of abortion and to urge the Senate to stand firm against any pro‑abortion legislation that passes the House. The organization’s efforts will be closely watched as the legislature prepares to convene in early 2027.
Original reporting: WBAP News/Talk (Dallas-Fort Worth) — read the source article.
