Texas has some of the strongest protections for unborn children in the country. Laws are a floor, though, not a finish line. A culture of life means a mother facing a hard pregnancy in Alief or Sharpstown knows exactly where to turn, and doesn't have to choose between her child and her rent.

Texas abortion law in 2026

The Human Life Protection Act took effect August 25, 2022. It prohibits abortion except to save the mother's life or prevent serious physical harm; it penalizes doctors who perform abortions, never the women who have them.

In 2025 the Legislature passed the Life of the Mother Act (SB 31), signed June 20. It made clear that doctors don't have to wait until a mother's life is in “imminent” danger to act, and that consulting a colleague is not a crime. In September 2025, HB 7 let Texans sue anyone who mails abortion pills into the state, while barring suits against the women who take them.

Standing with mothers: what Texas already funds

  • Babies born in Texas (2024): 390,828 (KFF / CDC)
  • Thriving Texas Families funding, 2026–27: $200 million, up from $140 million (Baker Institute)
  • Sites funded, including 102 pregnancy centers: 188 (Baker Institute)
  • Medicaid coverage after birth: 12 months, since March 1, 2024 (Office of the Governor)
  • Federal adoption tax credit, 2026: up to $17,670 per child; up to $5,000 now refundable (IRS / Mondaq)

In the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Office of Pro-Life Activities runs the Gabriel Project (713-225-5826) and partners with pregnancy centers including Loving Choice, Anchor Point, Adria Women's Health and Inspira. If you or someone you love is pregnant and scared, call. Find help here: https://archgh.org/offices-ministries/pastoral-educational-ministries/office-of-pro-life-activities/pregnancy-infancy-help

Where does my representative stand on abortion?

Rep. Lizzie Fletcher has made abortion central to her time in Congress. Her first TV ad of the 2022 race was titled “Freedom.”

  • H.R. 8297 (2022), reintroduced as H.R. 4099 (2025): Federal protection for traveling across state lines to obtain an abortion. Fletcher is the sponsor; it passed the House July 15, 2022. Roll Call 362: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll362
  • Women's Health Protection Act: Would write a federal statutory right to abortion into law, overriding state limits like Texas's. Fletcher voted yes in 2021 and 2022 and says she is an original cosponsor each Congress. Roll Calls 295 and 360: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll295 and https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll360
  • H.R. 4265 (2025): Federal grants to pay travel costs for abortions. Fletcher is the first cosponsor. Bill text: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119hr4265ih

Alexander Hale's position

Alexander believes every human life is sacred from conception, because every person bears the image of God. As he puts it: “Personhood is what I believe the Constitution means; until courts recognize that, Dobbs rightly returns the question to the states.”

In Congress, he will oppose taxpayer funding of abortion, including keeping the Hyde Amendment, and oppose any federal law that overrides Texas's protections, such as the Women's Health Protection Act.

Being pro-life doesn't end at birth. Alexander's whole-life agenda:

  • Support pregnancy resource centers, like the 102 Texas centers in the Thriving Texas Families network.
  • Streamline adoption, and protect the refundable federal adoption credit.
  • Expand health care access for mothers and babies, building on Texas's 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage.
  • Protect the Child Tax Credit for working families.
  • Lead with compassion. Help for women facing hardship, never condemnation.

His plan for state and local empowerment (https://www.halefortexas.com/priorities/local) follows the same principle: Texas made its decision, and Washington shouldn't overturn it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the abortion law in Texas in 2026? The Human Life Protection Act prohibits abortion except to save the mother's life or prevent serious physical harm. The 2025 Life of the Mother Act clarified when doctors can act.

What is the Thriving Texas Families program? Formerly Alternatives to Abortion, it funds counseling, classes, mentoring and baby supplies through 188 sites, with $200 million in 2026–27.

Where does Lizzie Fletcher stand on abortion? She sponsored H.R. 8297 and H.R. 4099 on abortion travel, voted for the Women's Health Protection Act twice, and ran a 2022 ad called “Freedom” centered on abortion.

What is the adoption tax credit for 2026? Up to $17,670 per child, with up to $5,000 refundable since tax year 2025.

Where does Alexander Hale stand on abortion? He believes life is sacred from conception, that Dobbs rightly returned the question to the states, and that Washington should neither fund abortion nor override Texas's law.

Where can I get help with an unexpected pregnancy in Houston? The Archdiocese's Gabriel Project (713-225-5826) and its partner pregnancy centers.

Every life, and every mother

Early voting runs through October 30, and Election Day is November 3. Vote at any site in your county; find one at https://www.harrisvotes.com (Harris) or https://www.fortbendvotes.org (Fort Bend).

Sources

  • PolitiFact, Human Life Protection Act (Feb 2024): https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2024/feb/14/instagram-posts/women-who-undergo-abortions-including-medication-a/
  • LegiScan, SB 31 (2025): https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB31/2160
  • Texas Standard, what SB 31 changed: https://texasstandard.org/stories/texas-emergency-abortion-clarifications-passes-house/
  • KFF, Texas HB 7 on abortion pills (Sept 2025): https://www.kff.org/quick-take/texas-governor-signs-bill-to-stop-the-mailing-of-medication-abortion-to-texans/
  • Baker Institute, Thriving Texas Families (Apr 2026): https://www.bakerinstitute.org/research/thriving-texas-families-shows-gaps-between-program-goals-and-activities
  • KFF, births by state: https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/number-of-births/?state=TX
  • Office of the Governor, postpartum coverage to 12 months: https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-hhsc-announce-medicaid-chip-postpartum-coverage-extension-to-12-months
  • IRS, adoption tax credit improvements: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/improvements-to-the-adoption-tax-credit-make-adoption-more-affordable
  • Mondaq, 2026 adoption credit amount: https://www.mondaq.com/unitedstates/income-tax/1808396/adoption-tax-credit-for-2026
  • Cornell LII, Hyde Amendment: https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Hyde_Amendment
  • Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, pregnancy and infancy help: https://archgh.org/offices-ministries/pastoral-educational-ministries/office-of-pro-life-activities/pregnancy-infancy-help
  • Lizzie Fletcher campaign, “Freedom” ad (Oct 4, 2022): https://www.lizziefletcher.com/2022/10/04/
  • House Clerk, Roll Call 295 (2021): https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2021/roll295
  • House Clerk, Roll Call 360 (2022): https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll360
  • House Clerk, Roll Call 362 (2022): https://clerk.house.gov/evs/2022/roll362
  • govinfo, H.R. 4099: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119hr4099ih
  • govinfo, H.R. 4265: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-119hr4265ih
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