The Texas House of Representatives approved legislation that would ban abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and apply more stringent standards to abortion clinics, Wednesday.
The formal approval by a vote of 96-49, followed a provisional passage Tuesday evening after 10 hours of debate on the bill.
The legislation has brought vocal activists on both sides of the abortion fight to the Texas Capitol.
The proposed regulations still must pass the Senate, where the legislation failed to get through in an earlier Senate session following Democratic State Sen. Wendy Davis’ 11-hour filibuster. Once it passes the Senate it will arrive on the desk of Republican Gov. Rick Perry, a supporter of the reforms.
The bill would ban abortion after 20-weeks unless the life of the mother is in danger, requires abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles of their clinics and requires abortion clinics to meet ambulatory surgical center standards. It gained national attention after Davis’ dramatic filibuster made her a star in Democratic politics.
Tuesday, Davis told CNN that it is “probably the case” that she will not be able to stop the bill again in the Senate.
“But I don’t think it’s the end. It’s the beginning of a battle line,” Davis said.
This article has been updated to reflect the most recent action on the bill in the Texas House.