After being signed into law on May 19th of this year, Senate Bill 8 (SB 8), now known as the Heartbeat Law, took effect in the state of Texas on September 1st. The new law prohibits the act of abortion after six weeks, the time in a woman’s pregnancy when a fetal heartbeat can be detected in ultrasounds.
While there are exceptions for medical emergencies, there are no exceptions for rape or incest. Additionally, the Heartbeat Law allows for private citizens to sue physicians or those who help a woman get an abortion after six weeks of pregnancy; this includes any financial assistance or transportation to clinics. The Supreme Court turned down an emergency request from abortion providers to block the Law.
At the signing ceremony, Governor Greg Abbott stated that the Legislature “worked together on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill that I’m about to sign that ensures the life of every unborn child who has a heartbeat will be saved from the ravages of abortion.”
On September 3rd, Texas state judge Maya Guerra Gamble (D) temporarily blocked the Texas Right to Life organization and its associates from suing abortion providers at Planned Parenthood clinics. Planned Parenthood has described SB 8 as a “draconian law” and believes the temporary block offers protection to “health care” providers at abortion clinics. Despite this temporary block, Texas Right to Life continues to stand firm against Planned Parenthood and pro-abortionists. Vice president of the organization Elizabeth Graham states that “approximately 150 babies per day are being saved” due to the SB 8 being signed into law and because of the organization’s leadership on the Texas Heartbeat Act. Graham stated that this lawsuit won’t stop the work of Texas Right to Life and stressed the organization’s commitment to “protecting pregnant women and preborn children from abortion.”