What just happened in Texas?
About SB8
A law called SB8 just went into effect in Texas on September 1. SB8 prohibits abortion after the detection of “cardiac activity or the steady and repetitive rhythmic contraction of the fetal heart within the gestational sac,” which occurs at 5-6 weeks. It also leaves enforcement of the law to individual citizens by allowing anyone to bring a case against any other person suspected of “aiding or abetting” a person getting an abortion.
The law was first passed by Governor Greg Abbott in May and since then, organizations in Texas have been working to have the law delayed or overruled. In the days before going into effect, the Fifth Circuit court refused to hear the case, an appeal was brought to the Supreme Court, and on September 2, a day after the law was allowed to already go into effect, the Supreme Court denied the appeal and sent it back to the lower courts to be heard. The law is in effect until the lower courts make a ruling.
What does that mean for abortion access in Texas?
According to the research group at UT Austin, nearly 80% of people seeking abortions will not be able to get care in Texas while the law is in effect. Clinics are also going to struggle to remain open as their patient services plummet (you can donate to Keep Our Clinics, a project of the Abortion Care Network that helps them keep their doors open as long as possible).
For a list of organizations on the ground in Texas and ways to support them, visit needabortion.org.
If you are someone looking to get an abortion and don’t know where your closest/best clinic is, visit ineedana.org or abortionfinder.org to help direct you where you need to go.
I want to help people traveling for their care!
That’s great! But we do ask that you stop by our Becoming a Practical Support Volunteer page to make sure you know what’s coming.