Texas Sen. Wendy Davis, center, is surrounded by Texas representatives and senators after leading a rally in support of women's rights to reproductive decisions at the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday, July 1. This is the first day of a second legislative special session called by Gov. Rick Perry to pass a restrictive abortion law through the Texas legislature. The first attempt was defeated after opponents were able to stall the vote until after first special session had ended. 
Natalie Maines and her father Lloyd Maines play the National Anthem at a rally supporting women's right on July 1. 
Women's rights demonstrators gather at the capitol in Austin on July 1. 
Anti-abortion demonstrators tape the word "life" over their mouths as they stand in the rotunda of the Texas capitol on July 1. 
Supporters on both sides of the issue crowd into the rotunda of the Texas Capitol on July 1. 
Pro-life supporters pray in the Capitol on July 1. 
Demonstrators on both sides gather in the Capitol on July 1. 
Davis leads a rally in support of women's rights to reproductive decisions on July 1. 
Protestors gather in the gallery of the Senate chamber on July 1. 
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- Groups from both sides of abortion debate crowd Texas capitol
- 1,900 people sign up to speak at House committee hearing
- The bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Austin, Texas (CNN) -- The battle over Texas' attempts to change its abortion law continued Tuesday at the state capitol.
Crowds of pro-choice and anti-abortion advocates flooded a House committee meeting on a bill that would impose strict new regulations on abortions in the state. Inside the hearing room, it was quiet as people waited their turn to speak.
But outside the hearing, it was prayer circles versus drum circles. Color-coordinated groups (blue and orange) huddled together throughout the statehouse, joined by ideology.
Middle ground was hard to come by. Each side has preconceived notions about the motives of the other side, and each side was going out of its way to prove the other's stereotypes correct. In the capitol rotunda, a group of abortion-rights activists joined hands to dance and sing in a circle, while above them anti-abortion demonstrators fell to their knees to pray.
Sen. Wendy Davis attempted to block a Texas abortion bill that would have greatly restricted abortions in the state, by attempting a 13-hour filibuster. The attempt fell short by about three hours when the chairman ruled she had gone off topic. 
Members of the gallery react as Davis is called for her third and final violation, ending the filibuster. The reaction in the gallery grew so intense that it drowned out the proceedings, preventing lawmakers from completing their vote by the official end of the session -- killing the bill. 
Davis filibuster took place in an near empty Senate floor. The bill she was fighting would have banned abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy and force many clinics to upgrade their facilities and be classified as ambulatory surgical centers. 
Davis wore a pair of pink tennis shoes in place of her dress shoes in preparation for hours of speaking. 
Davis spoke for nearly 11 hours. According to her office, Davis had a snack and a small amount of water before beginning. She was not allowed to lean or take a bathroom break. 
Opponents of the bill sit in the gallery holding hangers. 
While Davis filibuster attempt ended shortly before midnight, it wasn't until 3 a.m. that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst declared the bill dead and the special session over. 
Davis holds up her hand signaling her vote against a motion to call for a rules violation during her filibuster. 
The line to enter the packed gallery spilled into the rotunda. 
During the onset of her speech, said the she was speaking for families whose "personal relationships with their doctor and their Creator" would be violated by the bill. 
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The House State Affairs Committee gathered Tuesday afternoon with more than 1,900 people ready to share their opinions on House Bill 2. Fewer than 300 would be able to do so before the midnight deadline. Both sides were bringing in food, and the Department of Public Safety was maintaining the peace.
The initial House bill failed after a day and night of drama in which state Sen. Wendy Davis, D-Fort Worth, talked for more than 10 hours in an attempt to run out the clock on the legislative session. But Gov. Rick Perry called a special session so the legislature could take up the measure again.
The bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and tighten standards on abortion clinics and the doctors who work at them. Critics said the measure would shut down most of the abortion clinics in Texas.
Tuesday's hearing was meant to take note of public testimony. Among those who testified against House Bill 2 was Stacy Wilson, counsel for the Texas Hospital Association. Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner requested her testimony to be put into writing because he thought it was "critically important" to the bill. Turner said, "As a member of this committee, I have the right to ask for testimony to be reduced to writing. This is important."
Testimony also was heard from those in favor of the bill.
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