The Texas legislature is currently advancing HB 44 and SB 31, bills that are being marketed as solutions to existing confusion around the state’s abortion bans. However, medical professionals, including the author, an ob-gyn and abortion provider, strongly oppose them.
The bills are not only insufficient in addressing the real medical challenges faced under current abortion laws but also add new layers of legal risk. While advertised as providing clarity, these bills do more to harm healthcare than help it, continuing a broader trend of anti-abortion legislation with national implications.
HB 44 Adds Legal Confusion, Preventing Doctors From Providing Timely, Life-Saving Medical Care
Texas already enforces strict abortion bans with limited exceptions for medical emergencies. These laws have led to widespread hesitation among physicians to provide critical care, including in non-abortion-related medical crises like miscarriages and ectopic pregnancies. The confusion and fear surrounding these laws have resulted in higher maternal health risks and even fatalities.
HB 44, despite claims of clarification, would not resolve these issues—instead, it reinforces vague and legally fraught conditions that further paralyze healthcare professionals from acting decisively in emergencies.
Texas Abortion Bills HB 44 and SB 31 Deepen Medical Confusion and Expand Legal Risks for Care ProvidersSupporters of HB 44, including some pro-choice legislators, claim the bill simplifies language and protects doctors. However, the bill retains confusing and nonmedical terminology, leaving physicians uncertain and exposed to legal consequences. Moreover, hospitals tend to err on the side of caution, often denying care even when legal exceptions are met.
The bill’s language fails to address this systemic problem, rendering it ineffective in real-world application. For doctors on the frontlines, like the author, this legislation is not a step forward but another barrier to providing essential care.
HB 44 Revives Outdated Abortion Ban and Expands Criminalization of Essential Support Systems
One of the most dangerous elements of HB 44 is its revival of a century-old abortion ban that had previously been ruled unenforceable. By amending this outdated law, the bill opens the door to criminalizing not just doctors and patients, but also the support systems that help people access abortion care.
Parents who assist a minor in seeking an abortion out of state, or organizations that provide financial or logistical help, could now face legal consequences. This legislation arms anti-abortion officials like Attorney General Ken Paxton with expanded authority, deepening the crisis facing reproductive healthcare in Texas.
Despite efforts by some to find middle ground, the author rejects any compromise that endangers patient care. Abortion doctors, legal experts, and advocacy groups broadly oppose HB 44 because of its tangible harms. The bill does not deliver meaningful help to people suffering under current laws—especially vulnerable individuals like pregnant minors.
Instead of playing political games, the author urges the public to demand true legislative solutions by contacting lawmakers to oppose or amend HB 44 and SB 31. The stakes, she stresses, are too high for complacency.