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Less than a month remains in the 78th Legislative Session. House bills must be voted out of the House of Representatives by May 16 and Senate bills must be voted on by the House by May 28. Many bills continue to come out of committee and make it on to the House Floor. Once a bill has been approved by both houses, the bill will go to the governor to be signed or vetoed. Session ends on June 2. Two bills which have gained a great deal of attention in this and past sessions are House Bill 38 and House Bill 15.
House Bill 38, commonly referred to as the Defense of Marriage Act, would prohibit the state from giving effect to a public act, record, or judicial proceeding that creates, recognizes, or validates a marriage between persons of the same sex or a civil union in Texas or in any other state. Vermont is currently the only state that grants civil unions to people of the same sex. The bill would declare that same-sex marriages or civil unions are contrary to Texas' public policy and are void.
The House also passed the Women's Right to Know Act, House Bill 15. The bill would require an abortion provider to obtain the voluntary and informed consent of a woman receiving an abortion, except in a medical emergency. The bill would require that at least 24 hours prior to the performance of the abortion, the doctor performing the abortion or the referring doctor would have to provide specific information to the woman seeking the abortion.
This information would include the medical risks associated with abortion such as the risk to subsequent pregnancies, the probable gestational age of the unborn child at the time of abortion, and medical assistance that might be available for mother and baby care. Before the abortion, the woman would have to certify in writing that she had received the required information.
I have appreciated all of the input that constituents have provided to me during the legislative session. There have been some tough issues and your input has kept me informed of how District 62 feels about these issues. You can reach me by writing to P.O. Box 2910, Austin, TX 78768-2910 or by e-mailing me at larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us.