Texas Senate Bill 1985: Pharmacists’ Rights on Contraceptives and Abortion Pills
Date: AUSTIN – A new piece of legislation has been introduced in the Texas Senate that stands to significantly impact access to emergency contraceptives and abortion-inducing medications.
Overview of Senate Bill 1985
Filed by Texas Senator Bob Hall (R-Rockwall), Senate Bill 1985 seeks to empower pharmacists with the authority to refuse dispensing certain medications. Specifically, these include drugs categorized as abortion-inducing and emergency contraceptives.
Key Provisions of the Bill
The legislation explicitly allows pharmacists to opt out of providing:
- Emergency contraceptives that utilize elevated hormone doses taken post-coitus to prevent egg fertilization.
- Medications intended for abortion, commonly referred to as abortion pills.
Currently, Texas law already restricts the distribution of abortion-inducing drugs through mail or delivery. Additionally, it prohibits healthcare providers without a Texas medical license from offering telemedicine services to patients.
Implementation Timeline
If passed, Senate Bill 1985 is scheduled to go into effect on September 1, 2025, unless it garners a two-thirds supermajority approval in both the Texas Senate and House of Representatives.
Future Prospects
The degree of support this bill will receive is currently uncertain. It must not only pass a Senate vote but also gain approval from the House, underscoring the complexities surrounding legislative processes related to healthcare and reproductive rights in Texas.
