Texas abortion bill a step closer to law

AUSTIN, Texas (CNN) — A Texas Senate committee approved a contentious abortion bill Thursday, moving it one step closer to becoming law.

The Health and Human Services Committee voted in favor of the measure, which would ban abortions after 20 weeks and place new restrictions on clinics that provide abortions.

Critics said the measure would shut down most abortion clinics in Texas, denying access to many people in rural communities, and force women to seek dangerous back-alley abortions.

At a news conference with Republican members of the state legislature, Pastor Rick Scarborough said, “This is a small step towards ending all abortions in America.”