Texas 'fetal heartbeat' bill allowing citizens to sue over an abortion clears major hurdle
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Texas State Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, second from left, talks with fellow lawmakers in the House Chamber, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in Austin, Texas, after she became upset while asking questions of Rep. Shelby Slawson about a proposed bill. Howard opposes a bill introduced in Texas that would ban abortions as early as six weeks and allow private citizens to enforce it through civil lawsuits, under a measure given preliminary approval by the Republican-dominated state House on Wednesday. The move would have Texas join about a dozen other Republican-led states to pass so-called "heartbeat bills" which have been mostly blocked by federal courts. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)Eric Gay, STF / Associated Press