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HJR 204

Proposing a constitutional amendment prohibiting the legislature from restricting an individual's access to abortion and related health care.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by James Talarico

Texas constitutional amendment prohibiting legislature from restricting abortion access, requiring two-thirds legislative passage and voter referendum approval.

Referred to State Affairs
#abortion(i0005) #resolutions--constitutionalamendments(i0661)
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Bill Summary · HJR 204

Legislative bill overview

HJR 204 proposes a constitutional amendment to the Texas Constitution that would prohibit the state legislature from restricting access to abortion and abortion-related healthcare services. If passed by both chambers and approved by voters in a referendum, this amendment would override Texas's current abortion restrictions and prevent future legislative restrictions on abortion access.

Why is this important

Texas currently has one of the nation's strictest abortion bans, which took effect in 2021 and prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This amendment would fundamentally alter that legal landscape by constitutionally protecting abortion access, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of Texans and establishing Texas as an outlier among conservative-leaning states. The outcome could influence abortion policy debates nationally and impact women's healthcare access across the region.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of "related health care": The phrase "abortion-related health care" is undefined, creating uncertainty about what services would be protected (miscarriage management, medication abortion, etc.) and potentially enabling broad legal interpretations
  • Legislative supermajority required: Constitutional amendments in Texas require passage by two-thirds of both chambers, making this politically challenging given current legislative composition
  • Voter approval hurdle: Even if passed legislatively, the amendment requires voter approval in a statewide referendum, and Texas voters narrowly rejected a similar pro-abortion-access measure in 2023

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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