News Summary
The Texas House of Representatives voted along party lines to pass Senate Bill 33, preventing San Antonio from using taxpayer funds for out-of-state abortions. The bill addresses concerns raised by the San Antonio Family Association about taxpayer money being used for abortion-related travel. Despite legal challenges surrounding the Reproductive Justice Fund, San Antonio City Council had approved additional funding for the RJF, which is now under scrutiny. The controversial issue reflects broader debates on reproductive rights and funding in Texas.
San Antonio – The Texas House of Representatives has passed Senate Bill 33 with a party-line vote of 89 Yeas to 57 Nays, effectively closing a legal loophole that allowed the City of San Antonio to fund out-of-state abortions. The measure aims to prevent the city from using taxpayer dollars to support a Reproductive Justice Fund (RJF), which was designed to provide $500,000 for pregnant women seeking elective abortions beyond Texas.
Senate Bill 33 comes in the wake of previous legal actions that delayed the RJF’s implementation until April 2025. The RJF had previously been approved by the San Antonio City Council in September 2023 and was set to be managed by San Antonio Metro Health. However, legal challenges, particularly from the San Antonio Family Association, had raised concerns about the use of taxpayer money for abortion-related travel.
The Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton, initiated another lawsuit against the RJF, which is currently being reviewed by a three-judge panel of the Fourth Court of Appeals. Supporters of SB33, such as representatives from the San Antonio Family Association, consider its passage a necessary step to prohibit cities from misusing public funds for abortion services or abortion-inducing medications.
While most Democrats opposed the bill, a few members from their party crossed the aisle to support it. This divide highlights the contentious issue of abortion funding within the state. The Republican-controlled Texas State Senate had already greenlit SB33 earlier in the legislative session.
In a broader legislative context, the Texas House has also given approval to Senate Bill 31, a significant change that allows doctors to perform abortions to save the life of the mother. This marks a shift in Texas’ strict abortion laws, which have faced increasing scrutiny after reports surfaced of women suffering dire consequences when abortions were denied due to existing restrictions. However, it is important to note that SB31 does not include exceptions for cases of rape or incest, retaining some of the stringent measures previously associated with Texas law.
The San Antonio City Council recently voted 6-5 to allocate an additional $100,000 to the RJF despite ongoing legal uncertainties and concerns about the implications of using city funds to facilitate abortion travel. This funding will only be available to the original RJF applicants, with four organizations expressing serious interest in applying for funding related to travel for abortion care.
A number of council members have voiced apprehensions regarding the potential legal ramifications of providing funds for abortion travel. They argue that this could lead to significant legal challenges and costs that may exceed the allocated budget. The situation remains complex as the city considers further legislation that would restrict government entities from using taxpayer resources for abortion-related logistics.
The ongoing debate surrounding abortion funding in San Antonio and across Texas reflects a larger national conversation on reproductive rights. Mayor candidates who oppose RJF funding have raised serious questions about the legality and appropriateness of utilizing public funds for such initiatives. With new legislation and litigation underway, the landscape of abortion funding in Texas continues to evolve.
The passage of Senate Bill 33 is expected to have lasting implications on how cities in Texas can allocate taxpayer funds concerning reproductive health and rights. As legal battles continue and new policies emerge, both supporters and opponents of these measures will be closely monitoring the impact of these decisions on their communities.
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Additional Resources
- Fox San Antonio: Texas House Advances Bill
- Wikipedia: Reproductive rights
- KTSA: Texas House Passes Bill
- Google Search: Texas abortion law
- KSAT: San Antonio City Council Adds Fund
- Google Scholar: Abortion funding
- Courthouse News: Texas AG Sues San Antonio
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Abortion funding policy
- Spectrum Local News: Ken Paxton Sues San Antonio
- Google News: San Antonio abortion funding
Author: STAFF HERE SAN ANTONIO WRITER
The SAN ANTONIO STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERESanAntonio.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in San Antonio, Bexar County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Fiesta San Antonio, San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, and Dia de los Muertos. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce and United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, plus leading businesses in retail, insurance, and energy that power the local economy such as H-E-B, USAA, and Valero Energy. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HEREHouston.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
