Texas’ New Abortion Bill Targets Telehealth and Online Access
Texas lawmakers are at it again. On Friday, Republican legislators introduced a sweeping 43-page bill that aims to criminalize online access to abortion pills, restrict financial assistance for out-of-state abortion care, and expand the power of the state’s attorney general to prosecute abortion providers. This is the most aggressive anti-abortion measure the state has proposed since Roe v. Wade was overturned nearly three years ago.
What’s in the Bill?
This legislation, backed by Texas Right to Life, is a full-scale attack on abortion access in multiple ways:
Criminalizing Online Abortion Pill Access: The bill introduces civil liabilities for websites and tech platforms that provide information on ordering abortion pills.
Targeting Financial Transactions: It would make it illegal for financial platforms to process payments for abortion pills.
Civil Penalties for ‘Wrongful Death’: The bill allows the so-called "biological father of the unborn child" to sue for "wrongful death" if abortion pills are used.
Felony Charges for Helping Fund Abortion Travel: Anyone assisting with travel expenses for an out-of-state abortion could face felony charges.
Legal experts say the bill is a multi-pronged attack designed to dismantle the health networks that have allowed Texans to access abortion care despite state bans.
Why This Matters
Even with abortion bans sweeping the country, the number of abortions in the U.S. has actually increased since Roe fell—largely due to the ability to order medication abortion online. Texas, with one of the nation’s strictest bans, has become ground zero for these legal battles.
Here’s what’s at stake:
More than half of U.S. abortions are now medication abortions. This bill could cut off access to a method that is both safe and FDA-approved.
Texas leads the nation in telehealth abortion access under ‘shield laws’ from pro-choice states. Anti-abortion lawmakers see this as a major threat.
The law could have national implications. By targeting the internet, payment processors, and tech companies, Texas lawmakers are trying to control abortion access far beyond their state’s borders.
The Bigger Picture: Anti-Abortion Extremists Are Testing Their Limits
This isn’t just about Texas. The anti-abortion movement has been relentless in their attempts to ban abortion pills outright.
The Comstock Act (a 19th-century law) has been cited to argue that mailing abortion pills is illegal, though courts have rejected this interpretation.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has already fined a New York doctor $100,000 for mailing abortion pills to a patient in Texas, despite that state’s shield law protections.
Senate Republicans are pushing Trump to further restrict abortion medication.
What Happens Next?
Texas lawmakers have until early June to debate this bill. If passed (which is likely given Texas’ Republican-majority legislature and anti-abortion governor), the law will take effect on September 1, 2025.
If enforced, this bill won’t just impact Texas—it could force tech companies, financial institutions, and healthcare providers nationwide to make tough decisions about whether to comply with a Texas law that directly contradicts federal regulations.
As legal battles unfold, one thing is clear: Texas is once again leading the charge in restricting reproductive rights, and the fight over medication abortion is far from over.
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