Starting September 1, abortion clinics in Texas will have to meet a new tougher standard. They will have to be ambulatory surgical centers. It’s another measure of House Bill 2, the abortion law passed a year ago in a special legislative session.
This week abortion providers in Texas went to federal court looking to prove that the new standard is unnecessary and puts a substantial burden on women in Texas looking to legally terminate a pregnancy.
The state of Texas, along with pro-life organizations, say the standards are needed and the resulting closing down of abortion clinics around the state is an unintended consequence of the law.
Mary Tuma is a news editor at the Austin Chronicle and covered the trial.
