Texas Democratic lawmakers have filed a series of bills aimed at loosening or repealing the state’s abortion restrictions, following gains in the 2026 midterms that gave the party the governor’s office and control of the Texas House. Republicans will retain a majority in the Texas Senate when the Legislature convenes in January.
Currently, Texas bans abortion except when a mother’s life is at risk or she faces serious health complications. The state’s 2021 heartbeat law, Senate Bill 8, prohibits abortions once cardiac activity is detected, typically around six weeks, and allows private citizens to sue abortion providers and others who assist in obtaining the procedure. A separate “trigger ban” took effect in 2022, outlawing abortion at any stage of pregnancy with the same narrow exceptions. Abortion providers who violate the law can face up to life in prison. Texas also requires parental notification for minors seeking abortions, imposes facility requirements, bans partial-birth abortion, and restricts the mailing and prescribing of abortion pills.
State Rep. Donna Howard of Austin filed the most sweeping measure, House Bill 126, an omnibus bill that would eliminate the 2022 trigger ban, the 2021 heartbeat law, and a pre-Roe abortion restriction dating to 1925. It would also strike down parental notification requirements, mandatory waiting periods, and the state’s ban on gender transition drugs and surgeries for minors.
State Representative-elect Samantha Lopez-Resendez of Austin filed House Bill 948, which would repeal all three of the state’s existing abortion restrictions but does not include the other provisions in Howard’s bill.
Rep. Rhetta Bowers of Garland introduced House Bill 987, which would repeal the 2022 and 1925 restrictions but leave the six-week limit in place. Her bill would require doctors to examine patients before prescribing abortion pills and would mandate a follow-up visit within 14 days.
In the Senate, Sen. Carol Alvarado of Houston filed Senate Bill 231, which would permit abortions in cases of rape or incest without requiring women or girls to file police reports or provide supporting evidence.
Also from Houston, Sen. Molly Cook filed Senate Bill 243, which would allow abortions throughout pregnancy for fetuses with fatal conditions. The bill would require agreement from two doctors, and cases past 24 weeks would need review by an ethics committee. It also sets standards for “palliative care” for infants born with fatal conditions.
The bills were filed November 9, according to a USA Today report. Their prospects remain uncertain given continued Republican control of the Texas Senate.
