1. “Women’s Right to Know Half-Truths” bill by Rep. Frank Corte (R-San Antonio) & Sen. Thomas Williams (R-Woodlands). HB 15, a top priority of the anti-choice groups in Texas, passed in 2003 after numerous previous attempts. The bill, which was signed by Governor Perry on 6/20/03 and becomes fully effective on 1/1/04, requires Texas women exercising their constitutional right to obtain an abortion to wait 24 hours after being offered state-mandated materials. The bill also forces doctors to offer women sensationalized information such as “realistic” color photos of the fetus at 2-week increments and information about a mythical and medically discredited link between abortion and breast cancer. In addition, all abortions performed after 16 weeks must be performed at an ambulatory surgical center or hospital, rather than a clinic. This is particularly egregious since less than 5 abortions were performed in ambulatory surgical centers in Texas in 2000 and 2001, making abortions far more difficult to obtain at a stage when many women seek abortions for medical reasons. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against the bill when it passed the House by a vote of 95-41 on 4/29/03 and the Senate by a vote of 21-10 on 5/21/03.

2. Representative Jessica Farrar (D- Houston) offered an amendment to HB 15 to exempt rape and incest survivors from HB 15’s many restrictions. The amendment was tabled 89-51. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was against tabling the amendment. (4/28/03)

3. Representative Dawnna Dukes (D-Austin) offered an amendment to HB 15 to remove the 24-hour waiting period from the bill because waiting periods impose significant burdens on women and are based on the erroneous assumption that women don’t think carefully and thoughtfully before seeking an abortion. The amendment was tabled 98-43. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment. (4/28/03)

4. Representative Eddie Rodriguez (D-Austin) offered an amendment to HB 15 to allow women to obtain an abortion after 16 weeks at a family planning clinic if no ambulatory surgical center in her area was willing to provide the abortion. The amendment was tabled 93-41. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment. (4/28/03)

5. Representative Michael Villareal (D- San Antonio) offered an amendment to specifically exempt contraceptive devices or oral contraception from the waiting period and other restrictions in HB 15. The amendment was tabled 89-45. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment. (4/29/03)

6. Representative Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) offered an amendment to HB 15 to exempt women seeking an abortion due to severe fetal anomalies or medical necessity from the 24 hour waiting period. The amendment was tabled 89-49. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment. (4/29/03)

7. Representative Jessica Farrar (D-Houston) offered an amendment to HB 15 to delete the requirement that women be offered scientifically unsubstantiated information about a purported link between abortion and breast cancer. The amendment was tabled 86-48. A pro-choice vote (“P”) was a vote against tabling the amendment. (4/29/03)