We live under four of the nation’s harshest abortion bans in Texas, where anti-abortion lawmakers and their allies have created a culture of fear and confusion for people seeking the abortion care they need to build their own futures.
As the landscape of abortion access consistently changes in our state, the fact remains that Texans need and deserve abortion care, and there are many resources and mechanisms of support to help us access the care we need.
We are fighting for a Texas where reproductive health isn’t just an option, but where reproductive justice governs at the center.
House Bill 7, a bill banning the mailing of abortion pills into Texas, is now in effect as of December 4, 2025. We sat down with advocates from Fund Texas Choice, Frontera Fund, and If/When/How to discuss the landscape of care and the options available to Texans seeking abortions.
With House Bill 7 in effect, how will the options available to Texans change?
“It’s wildly offensive that HB 7 is titled the ‘Women and Children’s Protection Act’ when we’re seeing people dying from not being able to receive care in Texas.” – Kylee Sunderlin with If/When/How
House Bill 7 was passed during Texas’s second special legislative session of 2025. It will be in effect on December 4, 2025.
Under HB 7, private citizens — including those living outside of Texas — have the ability to sue anyone who distributes, transports, manufactures, or mails abortion medication to the state, even if the defendant resides or is based in a state or country where these actions are not prohibited.
While House Bill 7 is the law in Texas, abortion pill providers are technically outside of the state’s jurisdiction. It remains to be seen how these providers will interpret HB 7. We do know, like all abortion bans, this new law will intentionally cause confusion and fear for abortion seekers and people providing them resources.
“HB 7 will prevent a lot of people from accessing any type of care, because they’re not sure what is legal and what is not,” says Kayleigh Roffino with Fund Texas Choice.
But let us be clear: There are no laws in Texas that allow you as an abortion seeker to be criminalized.
“It’s forced criminalization that’s weaponizing building your family and building your future,” says Cathy Torrres with Frontera Fund.
For you, as a Texan, this law means you should continue being extremely careful about your digital security and who you share your abortion with.
If you’re pregnant in Texas and need an abortion, what are some initial steps you should/can take to access care?
1. Confirm your pregnancy, but make sure you’re doing so at a safe, HIPAA-compliant clinic.
Make sure you’re not going to an anti-abortion center, which are often referred to as “crisis pregnancy centers.” These centers exist to deter people from seeking abortions, are not medical clinics, and do not adhere to standard medical practices.
Texas has the highest number of anti-abortion centers in the country, but there are resources to protect yourself from them!
If a clinic looks like a good fit for you, you can search the name and address on the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map and make sure it does not appear. You can also check clinics by using the Expose Fake Clinics database or ReproAction’s Anti-Abortion Center database.
2. Once your pregnancy is confirmed, make an appointment for an abortion
Even if you know you’ll need financial support to get an abortion, you should make an appointment at an abortion clinic before you contact your local abortion fund.
Use an incognito browser and visit ineedana.com or www.abortionfinder.org to find a legal provider and make an appointment.
Remember, even though it is legal for you to access abortion outside of Texas in a state where it is legal, it’s important to practice good digital security. Visit Digital Defense Fund to learn more about protecting your digital privacy while seeking abortion resources.
3. After you’ve made an appointment, connect with your local abortion fund
“Regardless of your economic status, you should reach out for help,” says Kayleigh Roffino, Fund Texas Choice Program Coordinator and abortion storyteller.
Your local abortion fund can help offset costs for the procedure and travel, as well as be a vital support system for questions or feelings that might arise during the process.
Some funds, like Fund Texas Choice, can even provide trip planners for you.
“We book your hotel, send you an Uber voucher, and talk to you about your options for companion travel if that’s needed. We don’t have a gestational limit, so at whatever point you’re seeking abortion care, we want to get you that access,” Kayleigh says.
To find the best fund for your needs and location, visit: www.abortionfunds.org/find-a-fund
4. Visit our Abortion Access Resource List to learn more about your abortion options
As a patient, you have the right to:
A. Travel out of state to get an abortion
B. Access miscarriage mismanagement (A miscarriage caused by pills is the same as a natural miscarriage. Doctors provide treatment based on symptoms, and you do not have to share any information with them that you do not want to.)
C. Access pre- and post-abortion care in Texas
D. Access an abortion in Texas if you have a life-threatening physical condition caused by or arising from pregnancy
As a helper, you have the right to:
A. Provide information about how to obtain an abortion outside of Texas
B. Drive someone out of state for an abortion in a state where it is legal
C. Share information about medical abortion and abortion funds
If/When/How is a great resource if you have questions about your own legal protections when accessing abortion, or if you encounter any legal issues surrounding your abortion care.
Here’s what If/When/How’s Legal Services Director, Kylee Sunderlin, says you should know if you find yourself needing medical care:
You have the right to access miscarriage management and the right to access an abortion in Texas if you have a life-threatening physical condition caused by or arising from pregnancy.
Healthcare providers should be committed to giving you the best care possible, but in the unlikely event you are questioned and treated with suspicion while seeking care, here’s what Kylee wants you to know:
“If you feel that medical staff are asking you questions that go beyond details of your symptoms, you don’t have to answer them. If the police show up, the same is true. Do not answer, and call the Repro Legal Helpline. We will get you connected with local support and an attorney.”
Sunderlin notes that you should call the Repro Legal Helpline if you experience medical staff interrogating you while receiving care. You may be able to seek legal recourse, and If/When/How is here to support you.
What if someone is being denied abortion care and their life is at risk?
“If someone is being denied abortion care and their life is at risk, they should absolutely reach out to If/When/How’s Repro Legal Helpline,” says Sunderlin with If/When/How. “In the case of Cristina Nuñez, a pregnant Texan who was denied emergency abortion care even as she was suffering from deep vein thrombosis, eclampsia, and an embolism, we were able to help her get a lifesaving abortion. She reached out to the Helpline, and we were able to convince the hospital that her need for an abortion satisfied the medical exception in Texas’s abortion ban.”
“It is so important to know your rights when walking into a medical emergency, and sadly, in a state where our pregnancies and pregnancy outcomes are being policed and criminalized, we must stay aware. Some helpful resources would be needabortion.org or ineedana.com,” Kayleigh Garcia Roffino with Fund Texas Choice notes. “Pregnancy already comes with a lot of risk. As a mother and someone who wants to have more children, knowing my rights and advocating for myself is paramount. I cannot provide medical advice, but taking someone with you in a medical emergency is a good idea.”
Here’s how If/When/How’s Repro Legal Defense Fund can serve you in Texas:
“The Repro Legal Defense Fund funds bail and strong defenses for people being punished for abortion, miscarriage, stillbirth, and other pregnancy outcomes. Since Texas began using the law and legal system to ban abortion access and punish abortion seekers and their helpers, the Repro Legal Defense Fund has been providing financial and logistical support to the people at the center of these attacks, because we know criminalization is costly and fighting your case requires material support.
“We’ve paid the bail of clients who are being punished for an abortion so they did not have to face pre-trial detention, which has far-reaching, harmful consequences. And we’ve funded strong legal support and defenses for people facing the legal wrath of people like Jonathan Mitchell, and people on probation and parole who need permission to leave the state to get the abortion they need. The Texas anti-abortion administration is continuously using its positions of power to terrorize people who need, support access to, or provide abortions. Our job at the Repro Legal Defense Fund is to minimize the harm and reach of that state violence and ensure no one has to face it alone.” – Rafa Kidvai, Director, Repro Legal Defense Fund
What barriers to accessing abortion care should Texans be aware of and educated on navigating?
“We have four bans in our state, making it the state with the most bans in the country. These laws we have are meant to scare and prevent you from accessing legal care,” says Kayleigh with Fund Texas Choice. “You need to know who to trust.”
“Laws like SB 8, Texas’ six-week abortion ban, isolate people who need care, people who deserve to know who they can rely on and share information with,” adds Kylee Sunderlin with If/When/How.
“Even when you find out you’re pregnant, be safe in how and who you tell,” says Cathy with Frontera Fund. “Use encrypted apps like Signal, do not use social media to DM anyone, do not talk about it online. If you need to speak with a friend or family member, speak to them in person.”
There are also the material conditions that many Texans live with, including wage theft and a lack of childcare. “It costs, on average, $1200 for abortion care. Texans are typically traveling about 1400 miles, taking one and a half days off, and often, leaving their children at home — the majority of our clients are already parents,” Kayleigh highlights.
But we all have different barriers between us and accessing abortion care in Texas, which is why funds like Frontera Fund are focused on offering resources tailored to their community’s specific needs.
“At Frontera Fund, we focus on providing support for abortion seekers living within 100 miles of the U.S./Mexico border,” says Cathy Torres, Organizing Manager with Frontera Fund. “But if someone is undocumented, we serve them no matter where they are in Texas.”
“If someone is pregnant and choosing to get their abortion outside of Texas, they’re facing deportation, so this could be a determining factor in how they access care,” points out Torres. “People should be able to access abortion care regardless of their immigration status. It’s ridiculous that these systemically racist mechanisms are in place to prevent people from making their own decisions and having autonomy over their bodies. At Frontera Fund, we are deeply intentional in having conversations about how to make sure undocumented folks have abortion access.”
Our love letters to abortion seekers 🧡
“Abortion is a joyful, loving, selfless act. To have an abortion is your right, even if accessing it in our state is difficult and hard. I would not be the person I am today without my abortion, and the biggest thing we hear from our clients is their deep gratitude and an immense thank you.” – Kayleigh Roffino, Fund Texas Choice
Hear Kayleigh’s abortion story here!
“We’re strangers to our callers, but we care deeply. It’s so important to us that people are able to access the care that they need, that they feel empowered to do so, and that they know we’re here every step of the way. I got you. I know it’s hard, but we’ll get the care you need, and we’re here to help however we can.” – Cathy Torres, Frontera Fund
“Together, we can build power for a state where our leaders cling to their values, not discard them to control and oppress us. Texans are powerful, and we will create a kinder future — not them. That future is pro-abortion — without shame, without compromise.” – Yaneth Flores, Avow Texas
“Please know that there are so many incredible community-based groups in Texas who are there to provide accurate information and help you. I also want people to feel safe reaching out to the Repro Legal Helpline. Our goal is always to understand who you are and your specific circumstances, so we can share the information you need to make the right decision for yourself. We’re here to make you feel as safe and good about that decision as possible.” – Kylee Sunderlin, If/When/How