Texas GOP approves ban on mail-order abortion pills and makes it easier to sue providers

Legal & Regulatory Landscape - Texas lawmakers passed a bill enabling private citizens to sue those involved in providing or shipping abortion pills, excluding the women taking the medication [1] - This law mirrors SB8, Texas's "bounty hunter" law, empowering citizens to sue abortion providers [2] - The US Supreme Court's inaction on SB8 pre-Roe v Wade overturning, due to the state's limited enforcement role, is a precedent for this new law [3] Potential Impact & Industry Concerns - Individuals can sue even without a direct relationship to the person seeking the abortion pill [4] - The goal is to discourage abortion providers and out-of-state entities from providing or shipping abortion pills to Texas [5][6] - Shipping companies like UPS and FedEx, or organizations facilitating medication shipments, may cease operations in Texas due to legal risks [7] - The number of lawsuits may be few, but the chilling effect on abortion access is the primary objective [6]