Texas GOP to Stop Law Firms From Paying for Abortion Travel and Expenses

The Texas Liberty Caucus, a legislative caucus in the Texas Dwelling of Representatives, despatched a threatening letter to a legislation company with destinations in Dallas and Houston that prepared to reimburse travel expenses for employees seeking an abortion.

In the letter, which was dealt with to Sidley Austin LLP, the 11 reps of the caucus wrote that legislation will be introduced to impose civil and felony sanctions on legislation corporations that pay back for abortion or abortion travel.

“We are crafting to inform you of the repercussions that you and your colleagues will facial area for these actions,” it mentioned.

The proposed laws will prohibit any employer in the state from spending for elective abortions or reimbursing abortion-connected charges irrespective of wherever the abortion takes place. In accordance to these lawmakers, private citizens will be permitted to sue everyone who pays for an elective abortion carried out on a Texas resident. 

If passed, the regulation will grant The State Bar of Texas to disbar any attorney who has violated any abortion statutes. 

The Texas Independence Caucus stated Sidley experienced aided or abetted drug-induced abortions that violate the Texas Heartbeat Act, a legislation that bans abortions at about six months of being pregnant. In accordance to the letter, litigation is by now underway to establish personnel who may possibly have been associated.

“To the extent that Sidley is facilitating abortions carried out in violation of write-up 4512.1, it is exposing by itself and just about every of its companions to felony felony prosecution and disbarment.”

According to an e-mail viewed by Bloomberg Legislation, Sidley claimed it would go over abortions and similar vacation expenses for employees in states where by limits are likely into result. 

On June 24, the Supreme Courtroom overturned Roe v. Wade, a authorized precedent from 1973 that designed abortion authorized throughout the US. 

Past calendar year, Point out Senate Bill 8 took influence in Texas which outlawed abortion all-around 6 months of gestation, even in circumstances of rape and incest. The most up-to-date ruling will make felony penalties for people who carry out or help abortions at all levels of pregnancy. 

The letter was supported by the 11 conservative Texas lawmakers and concluded: “Conduct yourselves accordingly.”

Sidley Austin LLP and The Texas Freedom Caucus did not quickly react to Insider’s request for remark.