Texas HB144: Relating to the protection of an unborn child’s rights and criminal liability and justification for prohibited conduct.

What the bill says

An act relating to the protection of an unborn child's rights and criminal liability and justification for prohibited conduct.

From the introduced text, August 15, 2025:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the protection of an unborn child's rights and criminal liability and justification for prohibited conduct. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Acknowledging the sanctity of innocent human life created in the image of God, the purposes of this Act are to: (1) follow the United States Constitution, which provides that "[n]o State shall. . . . deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws"; (2) protect the lives of preborn children with the same criminal and civil laws protecting the lives of human beings born alive by repealing laws that permit wilful prenatal homicide and assault; (3) repeal laws that could be interpreted as allowing a person to pressure a pregnant mother to obtain an abortion; and (4) secure the right to life and equal protection of the laws for all preborn children from the moment of fertilization and to protect pregnant mothers. SECTION 2. Section 1.07(a)(26), Penal Code, is amended to read as follows: (26) "Individual" means a human being who is alive, including an unborn child at every stage of[ADDED: development][[DELETED: gestation]] from fertilization until birth. SECTION 3. Chapter 19, Penal Code, is amended by adding Section 19.07 to read as follows: [ADDED: Sec.][ADDED: ][ADDED: 19.07.][ADDED: ][ADDED: …

Sponsors

• Brent Money (R, HD-002) · primary sponsor
• Andy Hopper (R, HD-064)

Latest actions

1. August 20, 2025: Referred to State Affairs
2. August 20, 2025: Read first time
3. August 15, 2025: Filed

Common questions

What is HB144?

HB144 is a bill in the Texas Legislature (89th Legislature 2nd Special Session): Relating to the protection of an unborn child’s rights and criminal liability and justification for prohibited conduct.

What does HB144 do?

In its own words: An act relating to the protection of an unborn child's rights and criminal liability and justification for prohibited conduct.

What is the status of HB144?

In committee as of August 20, 2025. Latest action: Referred to State Affairs (August 20, 2025).

Who sponsored HB144?

Brent Money (R, HD-002), with 1 co-sponsor.

Where is the official record for HB144?

On the Texas Legislature website: https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=892&Bill=HB00144