Bill adding abortion reporting requirements on path to governor's desk

The bill's supporters say it's needed because reporting requirements on abortion are lacking. State Sen. Donna Campbell, who carried a similar measure in the Senate, called the state's current reporting procedures “sporadic and inefficient.”

“Collecting this data is important to guarantee best medical practices,” said Campbell, a New Braunfels Republican, during the Senate's debate on the legislation in late July. 

During debates in both chambers, Democrats attacked the measure. They echoed the concerns of reproductive rights advocates, who say it would violate the privacy rights of doctors and patients, and is an attempt to intimidate abortion providers. 

State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, who unsuccessfully attempted to extend the time period for reporting complications during the House's debate on the bill, said the bill would place a regulatory burden on doctors who preform abortions for “no other reason than harassment.”

“It will do nothing to improve the health and wellbeing of women,” she said at the time. 

Read related Tribune coverage:

• A study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association links increased distances to decline in abortions in Texas. [Full story]

• Reproductive rights advocates have expressed concern that Texas lawmakers will take bolder steps in the upcoming session to defund abortion providers and dismantle access to abortion, birth control and other sexual health services. [Full story]