2021 Legislative Scorecard

In 2021, on the heels of one of the closest elections in Texas in decades, anti-abortion legislators proposed and passed the most extreme abortion restrictions in the country, placing a $10,000 bounty on doctors, nurses, abortion funds, and patient’s family members and making abortion a felony should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade.

Anti-abortion extremists lost an election again, so Lt. Gov Dan Patrick changed the rules again.

After losing three state Senate seats in two elections due to his extremist anti-abortion agenda, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick once again forced a change in the Senate rules to allow his increasingly extreme agenda to pass with fewer votes than ever.

In 2020, the gerrymandered Texas state House and Senate districts once again elected an anti-abortion majority in both chambers of the Texas legislature. Under the traditional rules of the Senate, the election of abortion rights supporter Sen. Roland Gutierrez would have allowed Senators who support abortion rights to block the most extreme legislation. However, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick once again changed the Senate rules to allow him to pass his extreme anti-abortion agenda. This set the stage for the most extreme anti-abortion legislative session in recent history.

Abortion restriction and criminalization remained a priority, despite pledges of moderation.

This session, legislators made attacking abortion care their priority. Anti-abortion members of both chambers filed more than 55 bills attempting to ban, restrict, criminalize, or further stigmatize abortion. Bills that would have forced pregnant people to carry nonviable pregnancies to term, prohibited local governments from providing support to people seeking care, and allowed judges to appoint an attorney for a fetus in certain proceedings were given hearings and many were passed by the Texas Senate.

Abortion is so restricted in Texas that the only proposals left are extreme and polarizing.

The extremist legislation pushed by anti-abortion pressure groups and elected officials were so outrageous that fewer members than ever were willing to vote for them. The bills were so extreme that many moderate members who are in favor of some restrictions on abortion voted against these far right anti-science bills. This led to more polarized voting patterns, and fewer members in the middle because there was no common ground to be found.

BREAKING: Supreme Court Overturns Roe v Wade

Texas could soon criminalize all abortion. But together, we still have the power to take back our futures. Right now, Avow canvassers are working in the field and talking to voters about what abortion access means to our communities.

When we win back abortion rights at the state level, no out-of-touch, extreme judge will ever have the power to take it away again. Rush a donation and commit to restoring abortion access in Texas.

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Invest in Long-Term Advocacy: Become an Avow Bluebonnet!

When we win back abortion rights at the state level, no out-of-touch, extreme judge will ever have the power to take it away again. Rush a donation and commit to restoring abortion access in Texas.

If you’ve saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your monthly recurring donation will go through immediately:

FIGHT THE TEXAS ABORTION BAN

SB 8 bans abortion as early as 6 weeks and puts a $10,000 bounty on anyone who helps someone get abortion care. Now more than ever, we need unapologetic abortion rights advocates to lay the groundwork to defeat anti-abortion lawmakers.

Chip in to organize Texans to restore abortion access in our state. The organizing we do today determines the gains we make in 2022.

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NARAL Pro-Choice Texas is now Avow!

To avow means to declare openly, bluntly, and without shame. Now more than ever, our state needs bold and unapologetic advocacy for abortion rights.

As an independent, Texas-based organization, Avow will continue our work at the state and local level — where the decisions that most impact Texans are happening.

Together, we can build a Texas where every person is trusted, thriving, and free to pursue the life they want.

Learn more about our new name, inspired by bold and unapologetic abortion advocates like you!