Gov. Abbott signed SB 33 into law after the state legislature learned the City of Austin approved $400,000 in its budget for women to travel out of state for abortions. The funds covered expenses such as airfare, hotels, and food.
Austin, famous for its music scene, is also known for being a liberal bastion in red-state Texas.
SB 33 was sponsored by Sen. Donna Campbell and Rep. Candy Noble.
Mary Elizabeth Castle, of Texas Values, tells AFN the new law is a “huge victory” for taxpayers and for the lives of preborn Texans, too.
The pro-life stance is strong in Texas, Castle advises, because of laws such as the Texas Heartbeat Act and the Human Life Act. There are also some liberal cities, however, that promote and defend abortion.
“That's really where that generates from,” she says. “Just a very localized concern that was happening mostly in the Austin City Council, but it recently spread to San Antonio as well."
For pregnant women in Texas considering abortion, Castle and Texas Values encourage women to visit the website lovethembothtexas.com for resources to help.