Texas Governor Signs First of Its Kind Fetal Heartbeat Law That Leaves Enforcement to Private Citizens

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill on Wednesday barring abortions after the detection of a fetal heartbeat — as early as six weeks — with the exception of medical emergencies.

“Our creator endowed us with the right to life and yet millions of children lose their right to life every year because of abortion,” Abbott, a Republican, said during a bill signing ceremony. He added that the Legislature “worked together on a bipartisan basis to pass a bill that I’m about to sign that ensures that the life of every unborn child who has a heartbeat will be saved from the ravages of abortion.”

While more than a dozen other states have passed “heartbeat” bills, Texas on Wednesday became the largest state to do so.

However, the law, which takes effect in September, is first-of-its-kind in that it includes a unique provision that leaves enforcement to private citizens through lawsuits against abortion providers or anyone who helps a woman get an abortion.