The Woman and Child Protection Act introduces significant amendments to Texas law regarding abortion and abortion-inducing drugs by establishing Chapter 171A in the Health and Safety Code. This chapter includes definitions related to abortion, outlines civil liability provisions, and specifies that certain entities, such as internet and cloud service providers, cannot be held liable for the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs if they are not directly involved in the abortion process. The bill prohibits the manufacture and distribution of these drugs, with exceptions for specific medical circumstances, and allows enforcement only through qui tam actions. It also delineates the jurisdictional limits of state courts and grants exclusive appellate jurisdiction to the Fifteenth Court of Appeals for certain appeals.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions related to civil liability, including a six-year statute of limitations for actions under Section 171A.151, remedies for qui tam relators, and protections against retaliatory legal actions. It emphasizes that Texas courts have jurisdiction over defendants in qui tam actions and voids conflicting contractual choice-of-law provisions. The bill also outlines the Attorney General's authority to act against violations of criminal abortion laws while protecting women seeking abortions from legal action. It amends the Health and Safety Code and the Civil Practice and Remedies Code to establish specific legal provisions regarding jurisdiction and attorney's fees, including joint and several liability for costs against those seeking declaratory relief against abortion laws. The provisions will apply to causes of action accruing on or after September 1, 2025, and include a severability clause.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Civil Practice and Remedies Code 27.010, Chapter , Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.022, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.022 (Chapter , Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 27)
Senate Committee Report: Civil Practice and Remedies Code 27.010, Chapter , Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.022, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30.022 (Chapter , Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 30, Civil Practice and Remedies Code 27)