H.B. No. 163 aims to enhance the legal protections for unborn children in Texas by recognizing them as individuals with rights from the moment of fertilization. The bill amends the definition of "individual" in the Penal Code to include unborn children at every stage of development, and it introduces new sections that apply existing criminal laws equally to offenses against unborn victims as well as those against individuals born alive. Additionally, the bill seeks to repeal laws that could be interpreted as permitting prenatal homicide or coercing a pregnant woman into obtaining an abortion.

The legislation also includes provisions that clarify that unintentional injuries or deaths of unborn children resulting from lifesaving procedures for pregnant mothers or spontaneous miscarriages are not subject to criminal liability. It repeals certain existing laws that may conflict with these new protections. The changes will only apply to offenses committed after the bill's effective date, ensuring that prior offenses are governed by the laws in effect at that time. The bill is set to take effect 91 days after the conclusion of the legislative session.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Penal Code 1.07, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 71.003 (Penal Code 1, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 71)