# Texas SB 31: Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment.

Texas SB 31, Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment., is a 89th Legislature Regular Session Senate bill sponsored by Charlie Geren, Donna Howard, Bryan Hughes (Republican) and 3 others; status signed, last action 2025-06-20 (Effective immediately) (as of 2026-10-19).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB31-89R
- As of: 2026-10-19
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Texas SB 31
- State: Texas
- Session: 89th Legislature Regular Session
- Title: Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment.
- Status: signed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2025-03-14
- Last action: 2025-06-20, Effective immediately
- Sponsors: Charlie Geren, Donna Howard, Bryan Hughes (Republican), Lacey Hull, Ann Johnson, Angelia Orr
- Cosponsors: 77
- Subjects: Abortion, Civil Remedies & Liabilities, Health Care Providers, Health--General, Malpractice--Professionals, Women, LIFE OF THE MOTHER ACT, CONTINUING EDUCATION, PHYSICIANS, PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH, MEDICAL BOARD, TEXAS, STATE BAR OF TEXAS
- Touches household money: no
- Roll calls: 6 (348 yes, 10 no in all)
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 5

## Summary

No summary available.

## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read

- Patients protected from covered abortion offenses: benefit, medium. A pregnant patient who gets or tries to get an abortion for herself is not guilty of a covered offense. She cannot be treated as the offender or as someone who helped commit that offense. This rule governs interpretation of civil-statute chapters amended by this law.
- Texas lawyers get free abortion-law training: benefit, low. The State Bar of Texas must offer free online abortion-law training to Texas-licensed attorneys by January 1, 2026. Training must cover abortion restrictions and exceptions, medical emergencies, doctors' judgment, and treatment affecting unborn-child survival. The State Bar must develop the program…
- Emergency abortion access expands with limits: mixed, high. Texas allows licensed doctors to provide abortions when reasonable medical judgment finds a pregnancy-related physical condition threatens the patient's life or risks substantial harm to a major body function. The condition must be caused or worsened by pregnancy, or arise from it. The danger need…
- Emergency doctors must balance survival risks: mixed, medium. In covered emergencies, doctors must choose treatment giving the unborn child the best survival chance, using reasonable medical judgment. This duty does not apply when that treatment raises the patient's risk of death or substantial harm to a major body function. The law does not require delaying,…
- Some abortion lawsuits follow medical-claim rules: mixed, low. Some civil lawsuits against doctors and health care providers over Texas abortion laws must follow health care liability rules. This applies to alleged violations of Health and Safety Code Chapters 170, 170A, or 171 that are subject to a legal exception. Those claims face the same requirements as o…

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Charlie Geren, House
- Sponsor: Donna Howard, House
- Sponsor: Bryan Hughes (Republican), Senate
- Sponsor: Lacey Hull, House
- Sponsor: Ann Johnson, House
- Sponsor: Angelia Orr, House
- Cosponsor: Alma A. Allen, House
- Cosponsor: Carol Alvarado (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Keith Bell, House
- Cosponsor: Diego M. Bernal, House
- Cosponsor: Paul Bettencourt (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Salman Bhojani, House
- Cosponsor: Brian Birdwell (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: César Blanco (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Rhetta Andrews Bowers, House
- Cosponsor: John Bryant, House
- Cosponsor: Brad Buckley, House
- Cosponsor: John H. Bucy lll, House
- Cosponsor: Donna Campbell (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Elizabeth "Liz" Campos, House
- Cosponsor: Sheryl Cole, House
- Cosponsor: David Cook, House
- Cosponsor: Philip Cortez, House
- Cosponsor: Brandon Creighton (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Drew Darby, House
- Cosponsor: Aicha Davis, House
- Cosponsor: Pete Flores (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Cassandra Garcia Hernandez, House
- Cosponsor: Linda Garcia, House
- Cosponsor: Stan Gerdes, House
- Cosponsor: Vikki Goodwin, House
- Cosponsor: R.D. "Bobby" Guerra, House
- Cosponsor: Erin Gámez, House
- Cosponsor: Brent Hagenbuch (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Bob Hall (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Caroline Harris Davila, House
- Cosponsor: Cole Hefner, House
- Cosponsor: Ana Hernandez, House
- Cosponsor: Adam Hinojosa (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joan Huffman (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Venton Jones, House
- Cosponsor: Helen Kerwin, House
- Cosponsor: Phil King (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lois Kolkhorst (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Marc LaHood, House
- Cosponsor: Suleman Lalani, House
- Cosponsor: Stan Lambert, House
- Cosponsor: Jeff Leach, House
- Cosponsor: Janie Lopez, House
- Cosponsor: John McQueeney, House
- Cosponsor: Morgan Meyer, House
- Cosponsor: Terry Meza, House
- Cosponsor: Mayes Middleton (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Joe Moody, House
- Cosponsor: Penny Morales Shaw, House
- Cosponsor: Eddie Morales, House
- Cosponsor: Candy Noble, House
- Cosponsor: Claudia Ordaz, House
- Cosponsor: Tan Parker (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Jared Patterson, House
- Cosponsor: Angela Paxton (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mary Ann Perez, House
- Cosponsor: Vincent Perez, House
- Cosponsor: Charles Perry (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Mihaela Plesa, House
- Cosponsor: Ron Reynolds, House
- Cosponsor: Toni Rose, House
- Cosponsor: Jon E. Rosenthal, House
- Cosponsor: Charles Schwertner (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Lauren Ashley Simmons, House
- Cosponsor: Kevin Sparks (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: David Spiller, House
- Cosponsor: James Talarico, House
- Cosponsor: Carl H. Tepper, House
- Cosponsor: Ellen Troxclair, House
- Cosponsor: Chris Turner, House
- Cosponsor: VanDeaver
- Cosponsor: Hubert Vo, House
- Cosponsor: Charlene Ward Johnson, House
- Cosponsor: Terry M. Wilson, House
- Cosponsor: Gene Wu, House
- Cosponsor: Judith Zaffirini (Democratic), Senate
- Cosponsor: Erin Zwiener, House

## Roll call votes

| Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2025-05-22 | House | Record vote | pass | 134 | 4 |   |
| 2025-05-21 | House | Record vote | pass | 129 | 6 |   |
| 2025-04-29 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 31 | 0 |   |
| 2025-04-29 | Senate | Record vote | pass | 31 | 0 |   |
|   | House | Committee vote: Public Health | pass | 12 | 0 |   |
|   | Senate | Committee vote: State Affairs | pass | 11 | 0 |   |

## Actions (61)

- 2025-06-20: Effective immediately (House)
- 2025-06-20: Signed by the Governor (House)
- 2025-05-27: Sent to the Governor (House)
- 2025-05-26: Signed in the House (House)
- 2025-05-26: Signed in the Senate (Senate)
- 2025-05-23: Reported enrolled (Senate)
- 2025-05-23: House passage reported (Senate)
- 2025-05-23: Additional sponsor(s) authorized (House)
- 2025-05-23: Rules suspended (House)
- 2025-05-22: Reason for vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-22: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-22: Record vote (RV#3194) (House)
- 2025-05-22: Passed (House)
- 2025-05-22: Read 3rd time (House)
- 2025-05-22: Additional sponsor(s) authorized (House)
- 2025-05-22: Rules suspended (House)
- 2025-05-21: Reason for vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-21: Statement(s) of vote recorded in Journal (House)
- 2025-05-21: Record vote (RV#3163) (House)
- 2025-05-21: Passed to 3rd reading (House)
- 2025-05-21: Read 2nd time (House)
- 2025-05-21: Placed on Major State Calendar (House)
- 2025-05-19: Considered in Calendars (House)
- 2025-05-12: Committee report sent to Calendars (House)
- 2025-05-12: Committee report distributed (House)
- 2025-05-12: Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator (House)
- 2025-05-05: Reported favorably w/o amendment(s) (House)
- 2025-05-05: Considered in public hearing (House)
- 2025-05-01: Referred to Public Health (House)
- 2025-05-01: Read first time (House)
- 2025-04-30: Received from the Senate (House)
- 2025-04-29: Reported engrossed (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Remarks ordered printed (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Passed (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Read 3rd time (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Record vote (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Three day rule suspended (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Vote recorded in Journal (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Read 2nd time & passed to engrossment (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Rules suspended-Regular order of business (Senate)
- 2025-04-29: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-04-28: Placed on intent calendar (Senate)
- 2025-04-28: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Committee report printed and distributed (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Recommended for local & uncontested calendar (Senate)
- 2025-04-23: Reported favorably as substituted (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Vote taken in committee (Senate)
- 2025-04-22: Considered in public hearing (Senate)
- 2025-04-08: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-04-07: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Left pending in committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Testimony taken in committee (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Considered in public hearing (Senate)
- 2025-03-27: Scheduled for public hearing on . . . (Senate)
- 2025-03-20: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-03-19: Co-author authorized (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Referred to State Affairs (Senate)
- 2025-03-17: Read first time (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Filed (Senate)
- 2025-03-14: Received by the Secretary of the Senate (Senate)

## Bill text

- Engrossed: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031E.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031E.PDF)
- Enrolled: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031F.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031F.PDF)
- House Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031H.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031H.PDF)
- Introduced: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031I.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031I.PDF)
- Senate Committee Report: [HTML](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031S.HTM), [PDF](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031S.PDF)

## Related bills

- SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proceedings before a magistrate including the appointment of counsel for an indigent… (vetoed)
- SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certain attorneys ad litem in suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed by… (vetoed)
- SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; req… (vetoed)
- SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures related to proceedings in the judicial branch of state government, including court… (vetoed)
- SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans. (signed)
- HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry. (became law)

## Sources
- [Engrossed (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031E.HTM)
- [Engrossed (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031E.PDF)
- [Enrolled (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031F.HTM)
- [Enrolled (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031F.PDF)
- [House Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031H.HTM)
- [House Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031H.PDF)
- [Introduced (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031I.HTM)
- [Introduced (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031I.PDF)
- [Senate Committee Report (HTML)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/html/SB00031S.HTM)
- [Senate Committee Report (PDF)](http://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/89R/billtext/pdf/SB00031S.PDF)

## Related
- [SB 2111: Relating to legal representation of indigent persons in this state and to proce…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2111-89R)
- [SB 1838: Relating to the appointment of attorneys ad litem and the compensation of certa…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB1838-89R)
- [SB 3: Relating to the regulation of products derived from hemp, including consumable…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB3-89R)
- [SB 2878: Relating to the operation and administration of and practices and procedures re…](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB2878-89R)
- [SB 646: Relating to repayment of certain mental health professional education loans.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB646-89R)
- [HB 4325: Relating to civil liability for prohibited barratry.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-HB4325-89R)
- [Texas bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas/bills)
- [Texas state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/texas)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/TX-SB31-89R (as of 2026-10-19).