In the wake of catastrophic flooding that killed more than 100 Texans and displaced many more, Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special legislative session. But instead of prioritizing recovery and emergency relief, policymakers are using this tragedy to push through a slate of dangerous bills to escalate their attacks on reproductive freedom, especially for teens.
Among the governor’s priorities are two proposals that failed during the regular session: one that would effectively ban abortion pills (HB 65, a version of SB 2880), and another that would criminalize anyone who helps a teen travel out of state for abortion care without parental consent (HB 70, a version of SB 2352). That could mean driving them, buying a bus ticket or even chipping in towards gas money. And what starts with teens won’t stop there.
These extreme proposals are also at the center of a broader political standoff in Texas. In early August, over 50 Democratic lawmakers fled the state to block a quorum in the House, halting progress on the governor’s agenda—including these abortion-related bills. In response, Republican leadership voted to authorize civil arrest warrants to compel their return, escalating tensions at the Capitol.
This isn’t about one bill, or even one state. What’s happening in Texas is part of a broader strategy to attack abortion funds, criminalize community care, and expand the playbook to end abortion access for everyone, everywhere.