Six-week abortion ban goes into effect in Texas

A Texas bill banning virtually all abortions after a heartbeat is detected, which can occur in as few as six weeks, went into effect at midnight on Wednesday after the Supreme Court did not move to block it.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) signed the controversial legislation, referred to as the “fetal heartbeat bill” by many, in May, and it was set to go into effect on Sept. 1. It is the strictest abortion ban in the country.

In addition to prohibiting virtually all abortions after a heartbeat is detected, the bill allows most private citizens to file lawsuits against abortion providers if they have a suspicion that the provider infringed on the new policy.

The law makes an exception for medical emergencies.

Abortion providers had asked the Supreme Court to block the contentious legislation.

A group of abortion providers on Monday filed a request to Justice Samuel Alito, who oversees emergency issues that stem from Texas. The court could still grant the request from abortion providers and their advocates in coming days, but advocates argue the damage has already been done.

What does the lack of action on this mean for Roe v. Wade? The providers contended that the new Texas law violates the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion throughout the country.

They argue the law effectively eliminates the guarantee in Roe v. Wade that women have a right to end their pregnancies before viability and that states may not impose undue burdens on that decision.

“Nearly fifty years ago, this Court held that Texas could not ban abortion prior to viability,” the group wrote in a court brief, referring to the Roe v. Wade decision.