Texas Senate approves two anti-abortion bills
AUSTIN — The Senate on Wednesday approved two anti-abortion priority measures that would prohibit certain procedures and the donation of fetal tissue.
The upper chamber passed one bill that would ban "partial-birth" abortions and the donation of fetal tissue for research, sending it to the House for consideration. Lawmakers then gave preliminary approval to a proposal that would ban "dismemberment" abortions, with a final vote scheduled for Monday.
Both bills passed easily through the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services last month after several hours of public testimony. Critics of both bills said they are unnecessary and could prevent doctors from using the safest medical procedure available. Abortion opponents urged lawmakers to take more drastic measures and try to abolish abortion altogether.
Senate Bill 8 from Sen. Charles Schwertner would ban what the bill calls "partial-birth" abortions, a late-term procedure that is federal law prohibits. His bill would also prohibit the donation of fetal tissue from an elective abortion and the sale of fetal tissue — which is also illegal under federal law.
Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2017/03/15/texas-senate-approves-two-anti-abortion-bills