On June 24, 2022, all abortion clinics in Texas stopped providing abortion services. This will have devastating consequences for Texas women.

The United States Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022. In this opinion, the Court overturned almost 50 years of precedent going back to its seminal decision in Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that found that women have a constitutional right to abortion. As a result of the Dobbs opinion, there is no longer a recognized federal constitutional right to an abortion. Women’s rights will be determined by their state legislatures.

During the last Texas legislative session, a so-called “trigger law” was enacted which bans abortions in Texas if the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. This ban becomes effective 30 days after the issuance of a Supreme Court decision overruling Roe. There are no exceptions for pregnancies that result from rape or incest. There is an exception if the physician determines that the woman has a life-threatening physical condition that places her at risk of death or substantial impairment of a major bodily function.

However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an advisory that prosecutors could immediately pursue prosecutions based upon Texas law that pre-dated the 1973 Roe decision. As a result of questions regarding when an abortion ban would become effective, abortion funds and providers have paused their operations.

“The League of Women Voters of Texas strongly supports women’s access to comprehensive reproductive health services, including safe, legal abortions. The Dobbs opinion is an affront to the dignity of women and their ability to make their own decisions regarding their bodies and their futures. This decision puts the health of millions of women in danger, and it creates a hardship on women who do not have the financial means to travel out of Texas for abortion services,” explained Joyce LeBombard, president of the League of Women Voters of Texas.

The League of Women Voters has been advocating for reproductive justice for forty years. The League of Women Voters of the United States provided this statement on June 24, 2022.

The Texas League will continue to fight for both state and federal legislation that protects women’s liberties and their right of self-determination as to their reproductive choices, including abortion access.

LWV Texas President Joyce LeBombard (pictured middle) with LWV Houston members Annie Johnson Benifield (president) and Nancy Kral.