Today, the Harris County Commissioner’s Court is preparing to distribute a memo that was requested by County Judge Lina Hidalgo. The memo recommends using taxpayer funds to pay for supplementary needs or “logistical support” services for women seeking abortions. These supplementary needs can include providing free lodging or transportation to abortion clinics.

The memo also recommends using the county’s taxpayer dollars to lobby for the expansion of abortion in the state of Texas. This is in direct opposition to the recently passed Texas Heartbeat Law (S.B. 8).

Jonathan Saenz released the following statement:

“Harris County’s blatant political posturing serves no purpose other than to misrepresent the majority of its voters and waste taxpayer resources. Harris County should not be in the taxpayer-funded abortion business. The Heartbeat Law has already prevailed twice at the U.S. Supreme Court and will continue to save Texas lives.”

Harris County Commissioner’s Court attempts to sidestep a Texas state law known as Senate Bill 22, which was authored by Senator Donna Campbell and signed into law in 2019. S.B. 22 forbids local governments from using taxpayer dollars in any resource transaction including a sale, purchase, lease, donation of money, goods, services, real property, or any other transaction in support of abortion providers, or their affiliates.  

For more information about the Heartbeat Law, please visit  www.texasheartbeatlaw.com.