The bill, H.B. No. 257, proposes amendments to the Texas Health and Safety Code regarding the laws prohibiting abortion. It redefines the term "pregnant" to refer to the condition of having an embryo or fetus develop within the human body. The bill introduces several exceptions to the prohibition on abortion, allowing it when performed by a licensed physician if it is medically indicated, necessary to preserve the pregnant patient's life or health, or requested due to a lethal fetal anomaly or life-limiting diagnosis. Additionally, it establishes that each abortion permitted under these exceptions must be considered independently by the treating physician and the patient or their health care proxy, ensuring that medical review processes do not override their decisions.

Furthermore, the bill clarifies that no criminal, civil, or administrative liability can be imposed on a pregnant patient for undergoing an abortion. It repeals certain existing provisions and modifies others to align with the new exceptions and definitions. Notably, it removes previous language that specifically referred to "female" and "unborn child," opting for more inclusive terms such as "pregnant patient" and "embryo or fetus." The bill also repeals specific sections of the Health and Safety Code and other statutes that previously regulated abortion, aiming to streamline the legal framework surrounding this issue.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Health and Safety Code 171.205, Health and Safety Code 171.206, Health and Safety Code 171.207 (Health and Safety Code 171)