Texans who perform abortions can get life in prison, $100,000 fine

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Texans who perform abortions can now face up to life in prison and a $100,000 fine, thanks to the state’s trigger law, which went into effect Thursday. According to the law, performing an abortion is now a felony. There are, however, narrow exceptions to save the life of a pregnant patient.

The trigger law began when the U.S. Supreme Court issued its judgment in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, allowing states to set their own laws about abortions.

According to The Texas Tribune, the trigger law criminalizes performing an abortion from the moment of fertilization unless the pregnant patient is facing “a life-threatening physical condition aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy.” The statute specifically prohibits prosecuting a pregnant patient who undergoes an abortion.

Violations of the law are punishable by up to life in prison. The statute also says that the Attorney General “shall” seek a civil penalty of not less than $100,000, plus attorney’s fees.

Despite the state’s new law concerning abortions, several large cities’ district attorneys have said they won’t bring criminal charges in these cases, including Dallas, Bexar, Fort Bend, Nueces, and Travis counties. In opposition, some lawmakers have said they will propose legislation to allow prosecutors to bring abortion cases outside of their own jurisdiction if the local district attorneys refuse.