Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Listen In, Lubbock: SB 8 Pushes Legal System Into Uncharted Territory

Protesters gather outside of Citizen Tower before November public hearing regarding city-wide abortion ban.
Sarah Self-Walbrick / Texas Tech Public Media
Protesters gather outside of Citizen Tower before November public hearing regarding city-wide abortion ban.

Starting September 1, Texas will ban abortions as soon as a fetal heart beat is detected, which in many cases is as early as six weeks. Senate Bill 8, also known as "the heartbeat bill," passed in the latest legislative session. It is the first of its kind in the fact that unlike other laws, this law gives the power of enforcement to the people by providing a pathway for anyone to sue an abortion provider or a person who helps a women obtain the procedure—a feature very similar to an ordinance passed in Lubbock. It’s putting the legal system in uncharted territory.
 

Guests:

Ashley Lopez, Health and Politics Reporter, KUT

Sarah Self-Walbrick, Seniore Reporter, Texas Tech Public Media

Helpful Links:

Texas' New Anti-Abortion Law Could Be Tough For Providers To Challenge In Court, by Ashley Lopez

Texas Lawmakers Pass Legislation That Would Immediately Outlaw All Abortions If 'Roe' Is Overturned, by Ashley Lopez

Senate Bill 8

Twenty abortion providers sue Texas officials over law that bans abortions as early as six weeks
 

The iframe element

Kaysie Ellingson is the former news director for Texas Tech Public Media. She came to Lubbock after living in Anchorage, Alaska, working as a documentary producer for Alaska Public Media. Prior to working in public media, Kaysie earned her master's degree in journalism from the University of Southern California with an emphasis in documentary production.
Related Content