Texas lawmakers just took a step toward expanding their abortion ban beyond state lines. HB 5510 risks creating a de facto travel ban and expands the Texas abortion bounty law. Out-of-state providers and support networks could be sued simply for helping Texans access legal care in their own state.
HB 5510 is an attempt to isolate Texans who leave the state for care and to intimidate anyone who helps them. This will have a nation-wide chilling effect as it discourages people from helping Texans get care. That is the same playbook we saw with SB 8.
We still have time to block this dangerous bill. The Texas House committee will hold a public hearing on Friday, and we need to flood the comments with opposition to the bill. It just takes a few minutes to make your voice heard and stand up to this outrageous attack on the right to travel and seek abortion care.
Submit your comment:
Fill out your information, then click on the drop down menu for “Bills and Topics.” Navigate to “State Affairs April 25, 2025 – 8:00 AM [JHR 140]” then select “HB 5510 by Leach.” Then write your comment in the box below.
Not sure what to say?
Here is a sample comment you can use as an example:
My name is [NAME] and I write to oppose House Bill 5510. HB 5510 risks creating a de facto travel ban, and is an attempt to isolate Texans who leave the state for care and to intimidate anyone who helps us. This bill interferes with our right to seek healthcare out-of-state and be supported by doctors, family, and friends in the process. It undermines abortion access for Texans already facing multiple barriers to healthcare.
[Add 1-2 lines about why you personally care about abortion access]
This is treading on our personal freedom and we will not stand for it. Texans have already rejected this approach in Amarillo. Voters voted down the targeting of neighbors who help others access abortion care out of state. We do not want to be punished for seeking care or see our loved ones sued for offering help.
For years Texans have struggled to access even the most basic healthcare and the abortion ban has only worsened our quality of life. Maternal deaths in Texas have increased by 56%, sepsis rates have surged 50%, and infant mortality has increased by 13% increase. These are our lives and our loved ones in the heartbreaking statistics. At such a crucial moment, the state government should be doing anything but further criminalizing abortion care for Texans. For these reasons I oppose HB 5510.