AUSTIN, Texas — Gov. Greg Abbott expressed an openness to accept changes to the state’s abortion law. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick followed suit by naming the “Life of The Mother Act” one of his top priorities. 

The couple who petitioned the Texas Medical Board to clarify exceptions to the state’s abortion law last year are one step closer to their goal. 

“We just don’t want women dying,” said Amy Bresnen. 

Amy and her husband, Steve Bresnen, petitioned the board following the Texas Supreme Court’s rejection of Kate Cox’s attempt to end her nonviable pregnancy back in 2023.

The medical board did little to clarify the law, but the newly filed “Life of the Mother Act” from state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, removes the term “life-threatening” from current state law that only allows for an abortion if the mother’s life is at risk. Hughes told the Austin American-Statesman the bill “is intended to ‘remove any excuse’ for doctors not to treat pregnant patients whose lives are in danger.” 

“We’ve made it clear that people who participate, professionals, medical professionals, participate in the process, are not gonna be accused of aiding and abetting illegal abortions. So we think we’ve covered a lot of territory here,” said Steve Bresnen. 

This is an abortion bill that seemingly both sides of the aisle welcome.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick made clarifying the state’s abortion law one of his top 40 legislative priorities; telling a Dallas journalist earlier this year he welcomes amendments to the language of the state’s abortion law. 

“So the doctors are not in fear of being penalized if they think the life of the mother is at risk,” said Patrick on the WFAA program “Inside Texas Politics.”

Amy O’Donnell with the Texas Alliance for Life believes the state’s abortion ban was already clear, pointing to a statistic that since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022 there have been 145 medically necessary abortions through October 2024 and none of those providers have been arrested. 

“Important thing to note about the bill is it doesn’t weaken our law in any way,” said O’Donnell. 

She welcomes the expected clarification. 

“Taking out the word life-threatening doesn’t change the fact that there is nothing in the law as it’s written that says a threat to a mother’s life has to be imminent before a doctor can perform a medically necessary abortion to save a mother’s life or health,” said O’Donnell.

At least three women have died due to delayed or denied medical care. The Bresnen’s hope that trend doesn’t continue. 

“We don’t want women to have to leave the great state of Texas to get care when we know that we have great hospitals and doctors right here in Texas,” said Amy Bresnen. 

Beyond the medical clarity, the proposed bill calls for continued education requirements for lawyers and doctors working in the hospital setting, something that anti-abortion advocates have been pushing for.