Thread by @TexasTribune

1/ A law limiting the use of abortion-inducing medication in Texas took effect as the U.S. Supreme Court considers rolling back constitutional protections for abortion access. Here’s what you should know about the state of abortion laws in Texas right now. bit.ly/3ogvg00

2/ The Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday on Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban after the state’s sole abortion clinic sued and lower courts struck down the law. The court seems poised to roll back constitutional protections for abortion access.
bit.ly/3G8CvNQ

3/ It's not clear whether the justices will entirely overturn Roe v. Wade, but upholding Mississippi's law would overturn part of Roe: the constitutional protection for abortions before viability, which is usually around 24 weeks of pregnancy. bit.ly/3G8CvNQ

4/ Texas is one of 12 states that have enacted measures known as trigger laws that will automatically ban abortion if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade “wholly or partly.” bit.ly/3Id8Jt5

5/ Under Texas’ trigger law, providing an abortion would be illegal 30 days after the court either “wholly or partly” overturns Roe. It would give the attorney general the power to sue anyone who attempts an abortion for at least $100,000 per abortion. bit.ly/3ppNFqq

6/ Texas enacted a law in September banning abortions after about six weeks. More than 80% of abortions in TX happened after that point prior to the law.

SCOTUS heard oral arguments on the law’s constitutionality last month, but has not given a ruling.
bit.ly/31fIVvT

7/ Meanwhile, as of Thursday, Texas has further restricted the most common way people terminate their pregnancies by limiting the use of abortion-inducing medication to the first seven weeks.

Federal regulations say they can be used through 10 weeks. bit.ly/3ogvg00

8/8 Texas’ recent restrictive abortion laws come after decades of Republican-backed bills to limit abortion access, which have led to a significant drop in abortion clinics and procedures provided in the state. bit.ly/3ElRTWm