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Mary Tuma

@marytuma.bsky.social
2.4K followers 350 following 93 posts

Journalist covering reproductive rights and politics for The Texas Observer | Email: tuma@texasobserver.org

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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
It's my first day at @texasobserver.org and a good time to remind that if you're not a member, join now to subscribe to the magazine! In an increasingly concentrated + corporate media landscape, it's more important than ever to support independent journalism! texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/
texasobserver.fundjournalism.org
Join the Texas Observer
The best of investigative journalism since 1954.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The analysis found that "310 more patients in Texas experienced substantial blood loss after an ectopic pregnancy in 2023 and 2024 compared with 2018 and 2019, an increase of about 29%."
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
The TX Department of State Health Services has pushed the deadline for the latest MMRC report from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1 – until after the midterm elections and just a month before the legislative session, giving even more reason for advocates and lawmakers to suspect political influence. Bkgrd here:
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I am so incredibly proud and excited to join the @texasobserver.org staff! I have long admired and respected the Observer and its journalistic values. And it's an absolute honor to work alongside some of the most talented reporters in this state! Email tips, etc. here: tuma@texasobserver.org
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
The Texas committee tasked with reviewing maternal deaths has decided to forgo analyzing the two years following the demise of Roe v Wade. Health care advocates and lawmakers believe politics played a role, at least tacitly. My latest for @texasobserver.org: www.texasobserver.org/maternal-mor...
texasobserver.org
Texas Maternal Mortality Committee's Next Report Will Skip Post-'Roe' Deaths. Lawmakers Suspect Political Influence.
And one Texan says the body’s decision “retriggered” the pain of losing his wife, who counts among the preventable deaths that soon followed the state’s abortion bans.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
A Texas appeals court ruled the state did not provide any evidence that Houston midwife Maria Rojas violated the TX abortion ban. While a win, her low-cost clinics will likely not reopen. Bkgd @texasobserver.org: www.texasobserver.org/ken-paxton-p... Ruling: reproductiverights.org/wp-content/u...
texasobserver.org
Ken Paxton’s ‘Shoddy’ Prosecution of a Midwife Is Part of a Strategy to Expand His Power. Low-Income Houstonians Are Paying the Price.
Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
As an actual Texas abortion rights reporter (and lifelong Texan) I assure you this take is severely flawed. Not only does it underestimate the popularity of abortion rights, it reinforces the centrist fallacy of acquiescing to Republicans to gain power –– reality shows "compromises" do not work.
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Susan Rinkunas @susanrinkunas.com · 05/06/2026
NEW: The case of a Texas woman who accused a Marine of slipping abortion pills into her hot chocolate gets even weirder. The Marine countersued in September, saying she made it all up. Now, his lawyers say she's been withholding evidence—including scads of texts and a second phone @autonomynews.co
autonomynews.co
Woman Accused of Fabricating Abortion Pill 'Coercion' Story Allegedly Hid Text Messages, Second Phone
In one message, the woman wrote of “making connections with powerful pro-life entities” to “take [her ex] down.”
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
(1/2) A reminder that when it comes to abortion rights, Ken Paxton: -led multiple lawsuits against out of state providers -tried to throw a midwife in jail for life -threatened docs w/ felonies if they helped a TX woman w/ emergency abortion care -legally attacked abortion funds + supporters
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
At least 4,200 people in Texas were still able to access abortion care through telehealth this June. Nationally, telehealth w/ pills accounts for 27% abortions across the U.S., according to @societyfp.bsky.social
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Garnet Henderson @garnethenderson.com · 14/05/2026
BREAKING (again, sorry) the order is in: The Fifth Circuit's ruling is again blocked. Mifepristone remains available via telehealth. Alito and Thomas dissent. Thomas' dissent mentions the Comstock Act, the 1873 anti vice law conservatives want to use to ban mailing abortion pills.
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Garnet Henderson @garnethenderson.com · 14/05/2026
BREAKING: It’s now past 5pm ET and no word from the Supreme Court. This means the 5th Circuit’s ruling restricting telehealth prescriptions of mifepristone is now in effect. However the Supreme Court could act and change this at any time.
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Kelcie Moseley-Morris @kelciemmorris.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
If this extension of the stay feels familiar, it might be because the same thing happened during the 2023 case challenging nationwide access to mifepristone. Alito extended it for two days before the court upheld the status quo and maintained access. Here’s a refresher on the current case:
stateline.org
Unpacking the fight over telehealth access to abortion medication • Stateline
Advocates and opponents of abortion access say they’re wondering what happens next in a critical telehealth medication case that created chaos and confusion over the past week after an appeals court b...
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Nina Martin @byninamartin.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito—author of the decision overturning Roe v. Wade—has paused a move by the 5th Circuit to cut off abortion pills by mail. My update on a case that puts abortion back on the SCOTUS docket in a midterm year: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
motherjones.com
Supreme Court reinstates access to abortion pills—for now
Justice Samuel Alito, author of the Dobbs decision, tells the Fifth Circuit to slow down.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
“Who would have the gall to file a lawsuit over someone’s decision like that and splash it all over the papers, except for someone who intends to further abuse?,” said Marc Hearron, senior counsel w/ @reprorights.org
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 20/04/2026
Abortion opponents keep neglecting to vet the plaintiffs behind their abortion-pill lawsuits. And the cases keep blowing up in their faces.
motherjones.com
The messy plaintiffs behind so many anti-abortion lawsuits
Allegations of domestic violence have turned yet another abortion-pill case into "a PR disaster."
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
For @motherjones.com: I take a look at the many anti-abortion Texas-based lawsuits that target abortion pills and why they keep relying on plaintiffs later revealed to be problematic and "abusive." “These cases range from messy to downright wild,” says law professor @maryrziegler.bsky.social
motherjones.com
The messy plaintiffs behind so many anti-abortion lawsuits
Allegations of domestic violence have turned yet another abortion-pill case into "a PR disaster."
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
So incredibly proud of my dear friend @jazmineulloa.bsky.social's ambitious and beautifully woven new book that traces the complex and rich history of El Paso through the lives of five families, elevating the border city to its "rightful position" at the center of our American story. An excerpt here
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 24/02/2026
NEW: TX AG Paxton sues international abortion pill provider Aid Access for allegedly shipping medication to Texans. This comes after a similar suit against a Delaware-based provider. These suits go up against shield laws + now, international law Filing www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...
texasattorneygeneral.gov
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Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 18/02/2026
New from @marytuma.bsky.social: “There’s an almost shocking lack of evidence around these #abortion care accusations. What you’re seeing is an attorney general grasping at straws and rushing to indict anyone during an election year.”
texasobserver.org
Ken Paxton’s ‘Shoddy’ Prosecution of a Midwife Is Part of a Strategy to Expand His Power. Low-Income Houstonians Are Paying the Price.
Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Attorney General Paxton wants to imprison midwife Maria Rojas –– a Latina from Peru who was serving the Spanish-speaking community –– for life based on a "baseless" case. I report that the lead investigator has made several pro-MAGA social media posts that include strong anti-immigrant sentiments:
texasobserver.org
Ken Paxton’s ‘Shoddy’ Prosecution of a Midwife Is Part of a Strategy to Expand His Power. Low-Income Houstonians Are Paying the Price.
Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
My latest for @texasobserver.org: Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.
texasobserver.org
Ken Paxton’s ‘Shoddy’ Prosecution of a Midwife Is Part of a Strategy to Expand His Power. Low-Income Houstonians Are Paying the Price.
Maria Margarita Rojas is the first healthcare provider charged for abortion care under Texas’ strict criminal ban. Her attorneys say the state has no evidence—yet her clinics remain shuttered.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
BREAKING: Texas AG Ken Paxton is suing abortion pill provider Debra Lynch, founder of Delaware-based Her Safe Harbor for violating Texas abortion law. I talked to Debra in Sept. and she said she would keep providing care to Texans despite HB 7. Suit: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...
texasattorneygeneral.gov
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 11/12/2025
When I write that Texas right-wing officials are "insatiable" in their crusade to decimate abortion care, it's not hyperbole. This second attempt by TX is in addition to: ->A full criminal ban since 2022 + near-total ban since 2021 ->A new bounty-hunter vigilante.... www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
reuters.com
Texas, Florida mount latest legal challenge to FDA abortion pill approval
Texas and Florida have launched the latest lawsuit seeking to restrict access to the abortion pill mifepristone, following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's recent approval of a new generic vers...
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
I spoke with two out-of-state abortion pill providers who tell me a new aggressive Texas law, set to take effect Dec. 4, will not deter them from offering care: “We will not halt shipments to Texas. We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law,” says Debra Lynch of @hersafeharbor.bsky.social
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
On Thurs., Dec. 4 a new Texas anti-abortion law takes effect. HB 7 aims to halt access to medication abortion by empowering people to sue anyone who mails, prescribes, or provides abortion-inducing pills to the state and reap a minimum of $100K in court. Background: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
thenation.com
Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication
Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
"During Walker’s many hospital and prenatal visits, 21 OB-GYNs were among the more than 90 physicians involved in her care. None of them counseled her on the option — or the health benefits — of a termination, according to medical records."
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 14/11/2025
Texans under 18 faced more barriers to accessing abortion care in clinics than any other age group in the months following the 2021 near-total abortion ban, according to a new study in @amjpublichealth.bsky.social Caveat: this study does not include SMA ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/...
ajph.aphapublications.org
Changes in Facility-Based Abortion Care Among Texas Resident Minors and Young Adults After a 2021 Abortion Ban: September 2020–May 2022 | AJPH | Vol. Issue
Objectives. To compare changes in the number of facility-based abortions among Texas residents in different age groups following the state’s 2021 law prohibiting abortion after detection of embryonic ...
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Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 02/10/2025
A federal judge in Texas who spent the past three years trying to help conservative groups overturn the FDA's regulation of the abortion drug mifepristone has bowed out of the case.
motherjones.com
Fiercely anti-abortion judge has bowed out of blockbuster mifepristone case
But the threat isn't over.
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The Nation Magazine @thenation.com · 18/09/2025
"We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law,” says Debra Lynch, founder of Her Safe Harbor, a Delaware-based abortion telehealth provider. "HB 7 is an intimidation tactic, not a reflection of the reality of people’s needs."
thenation.com
Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication
Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 19/09/2025
At least two out-of-state abortion pill providers @themap-crhc.bsky.social and @hersafeharbor.bsky.social tell me they are undeterred in the face of a new Texas law that allows citizens to sue them and others. "We refuse to comply with cruelty disguised as law." www.thenation.com/article/soci...
thenation.com
Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication
Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
For @thenation.com: While Texas officials wage a battle against New York's abortion shield law and welcome a law to block abortion medication access, out-of-state providers that send pills to Texans like @hersafeharbor.bsky.social tell me they will not back down: www.thenation.com/article/soci...
thenation.com
Texas Extremists Are Trying Everything to Block Abortion Medication
Texas officials and activists are ramping up the fight against abortion pill access. But providers are standing firm.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 17/09/2025
This new study from @nber.org analyzed the imapct of 2013 Texas abortion laws, finding bans cause “significant economic hardship” and widen income inequality, translating into higher rates of “financially motivated crime, such as theft and burglary.” www.nber.org/papers/w34245
nber.org
Abortion, Economic Hardship, and Crime
Founded in 1920, the NBER is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to conducting economic research and to disseminating research findings among academics, public policy makers, an...
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Carter Sherman @cartersherman.bsky.social · 08/09/2025
NEWS from this morning: Letitia James, New York's attorney general, is intervening in a Texas attempt to penalize a New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills across state lines—escalating one of the most consequential fights in the US abortion wars. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
theguardian.com
Letitia James will ‘step in to defend’ New York doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to Texas
State attorney general aims to block effort to punish doctor: ‘Texas has no power to impose its cruel abortion ban here’
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Autonomy News @autonomynews.co · 04/09/2025
BREAKING: The Texas man accused in a Jonathan Mitchell-penned lawsuit of putting abortion pills in his partner's drink without her knowledge—causing her to have a miscarriage—says her story isn't true. He's countersuing for $100 million.
autonomynews.co
Texas Man Accused of Putting Abortion Pills in Partner’s Drink Claims She Made It Up, Countersues for $100 Million
The 34-year-old Marine alleges that the woman who sued him for wrongful death lied about a coerced abortion, and that there were political motives behind her lawsuit.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
While Texas already bans abortion, with HB 7 Republicans aim to halt the flow of abortion medication from out of state, one of the only remaining avenues for Texans to still access care. The bill now moves to the Gov's desk. My latest for @texasobserver.org: www.texasobserver.org/texas-legisl...
texasobserver.org
Texas Legislature Passes ‘Bounty Hunter’ Ban on Abortion Pills
House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.
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Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 04/09/2025
New from Special Correspondent @marytuma.bsky.social: House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.
texasobserver.org
Texas Legislature Passes ‘Bounty Hunter’ Ban on Abortion Pills
House Bill 7 attacks one of the last remaining options for reproductive care in Texas and declares legal war on blue states.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
🚨BREAKING (this is a big deal y'all): The Texas Senate has given final approval to HB 7, a bill that empowers citizens to sue anyone who, “manufactures, distributes, mails, transports, delivers, prescribes, or provides” abortion pills to Texans for at least $100K, it now moves to Gov. Abbott's desk.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 29/08/2025
Now: The Texas House has given approval to HB 7, a bill that seeks to empower citizens to sue those who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans, following passionate opposition from Democrats, who testified that the measure will lead to more deaths. HB 7 still needs a vote from the Senate.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
A new version of a TX bill that allows private citizens to sue drug manufacturers for mailing abortion pills and reap $100K allows those not related to the person in question to get $10K + donate the rest to charity –– anti-abortion group Texas Right to Life suggest they should be the recipient:
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 20/08/2025
JUST IN: Attorney General Ken Paxton demands an "immediate halt" to mailing of abortion pills to Texans via cease and desist letters, citing a violation of the Comstock Act and abortion bans, targeting Plan C, Her Safe Harbor, and affiliate of Aid Access: www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/defaul...
texasattorneygeneral.gov
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
My latest for @texasobserver.org: After a surge of post-SB 8 + Dobbs "rage donations," Texas abortion funds – grassroots groups on the frontlines of connecting Texans with out-of-state care – now see dwindling contributions while facing rising costs and demand: www.texasobserver.org/abortion-fun...
texasobserver.org
Abortion Funds See Dwindling Donations as Demand and Cost Rise
A flood of cash following Roe’s fall has dried up, leaving Texas nonprofits struggling to keep pace with the state’s abortion access crisis.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Just in: A South Texas woman who was unlawfully arrested and charged w/ murder for having a medication abortion in 2022 faced "gross abuse of power" from Starr County officials who have also sought to evade accountability, a new filing from @aclutx.bsky.social claims: www.aclu.org/cases/gonzal...
aclu.org
Gonzalez v. Ramirez et al. | American Civil Liberties Union
Although Texas law clearly prohibits prosecuting people for terminating their pregnancies, Starr County officials indicted, arrested, and jailed Lizelle Gonzalez for having an abortion. The ACLU’s Abo...
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 12/08/2025
Bold of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to criticize + sue to enforce arrest warrants of Texas Democrats who "fled" and who have "run away" to protect voting rights when Paxton quite literally fled and "RAN" away to avoid being served a subpoena (Is "bold" the word I'm looking for? Probably not.)
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Now: A Texas Senate Committee just passed anti-abortion bill SB 6 and it will move to the full Senate, where it will surely pass. However, the Democrat gerrymandering exodus prevents a quorum in the House so bills like this will be slowed down (or potentially defeated) for now if the walkout holds.
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Garnet Henderson @garnethenderson.com · 11/08/2025
NEW: A Texas woman filed a wrongful death suit in federal court today alleging a man gave her abortion pills without her consent. The suit also names Aid Access and its founder Rebecca Gomperts. The woman is represented by SB 8 architect Jonathan Mitchell. Me at @autonomynews.co:
autonomynews.co
Texas Woman Files Wrongful Death Suit, Alleges Man Slipped Abortion Pills in Her Drink
Jonathan Mitchell is representing a woman suing both her male partner and Aid Access founder Rebecca Gomperts. Mitchell associate Mark Lee Dickson said he learned of the incident from a crisis pregnan...
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 11/08/2025
Today: A Texas Senate committee is expected to hear a revival of an anti-abortion bill (that failed during the regular session) which would empower private citizens to sue health providers and manufacturers who mail or prescribe abortion pills to Texans. SB 6: capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/H...
capitol.texas.gov
Texas Legislature Online - 89(1) History for SB 6
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 05/08/2025
And the walkout has slowed down anti-abortion bills — including a measure that would let private citizens sue health providers and manufacturers for mailing + prescribing abortion medication to Texans
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
Mistress of aggressively anti-abortion conservative Rep. Giovanni Capriglione alleges that he paid for multiple abortions during their affair, via right-wing outlet, Current Revolt. Capriglione authored the state's abortion trigger ban, which criminalizes care w/ up to life in prison for providers.
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Mary Tuma @marytuma.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Jonathan Mitchell strikes again. A Texas man has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a California abortion provider for allegedly mailing abortion medication to his girlfriend. Like the Silva case, Mitchell is arguing a violation of the Comstock Act. www.courthousenews.com/texas-man-su...
courthousenews.com
Texas man sues California doctor over medication abortion
The wrongful death suit invokes a long-dormant federal law alongside state law.
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