A bill that provides clarification for when doctors can perform emergency abortions passed the Texas House this afternoon. The bill was proposed after reporting found that confusion surrounding Texas’ abortion ban had resulted in the deaths of at least two women. The Texas Newsroom’s Nina Banks has more.
Senate Bill 31 allows abortions in the case of a life-threatening medical emergency. It passed the House 129-6 on Wednesday. The proposal has seen bipartisan support in both chambers and passed unanimously in the Texas Senate earlier this session. The bill still doesn’t provide exceptions for rape, incest or fatal fetal disorders. Rep. Charlie Geren, a Fort Worth Republican, assured the chamber that the bill would not allow for loopholes.
“This is not a choice bill. This bill addresses the life and health of the mother — period. That’s it.”
The proposal needs one more procedural vote in the House before it heads to the governor’s desk. I’m Nina Banks in Austin.- Texas could soon become one of the first states to incorporate cryptocurrency into its financial strategy. As the Texas Newsroom’s Lucio Vasquez reports, the Texas House has advanced a bill that would create a state-managed crypto reserve.
Under Senate Bill 21, the state comptroller could buy and manage cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Brian Morgenstern is a board member of the Texas Blockchain Council. He says crypto could help shield the state’s money against inflation and market swings.
“The trend for Bitcoin, over the course of its lifespan, has always been up and to the right.”
The crypto reserve would be subject to third-party audits, with reports going to lawmakers every two years. The bill now heads to Governor Greg Abbott’s desk for approval. I’m Lucio Vasquez in Houston.
Texas House passes 'Life of the Mother' bill to clarify ambiguity of current abortion ban
