State troopers look on as opponents of an abortion bill yell after the House of Representatives formally approved the measure on Wednesday, July 10, in Austin. A state Senate committee is scheduled to vote Thursday, July 11, on whether to send its version of the bill to the full Senate. The bill would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, allow abortions only in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. 
Speaker of the House Joe Straus strikes the gavel after a provisional vote on the abortion bill passed during the special legislative session on Tuesday, July 9. 
Supporters of the abortion bill react in the gallery of the Texas House after the bill was provisionally approved on July 9. 
Opponents of the abortion bill yell outside the Texas House after the bill is provisionally approved on July 9. 
State Rep. Jodie Laubenberg, sponsor of the abortion bill, leaves the Texas House floor after the bill passed on July 9. 
Anti-abortion activists take part in a rosary procession around the Capitol as the House debates the bill on July 9. 
State Sen. Wendy Davis speaks at a news conference outside the Texas Capitol as the Texas House prepares to begin debate on the bill on July 9. In late June, she blocked the bill with a filibuster, talking for more than 10 hours, running out the clock on the regular legislative session. 
Supporters of the bill listen to speakers at a rally organized by the Texas Right to Life Organization on Monday, July 8. 
Abortion rights activists march from the Texas Capitol on July 8. 
Members of the public line up for an opportunity to speak at a Senate hearing on a proposed abortion bill at the State Capitol on July 8. 
Republican Sen. Bob Deuell set two pairs of infant shoes on the counter while speaking at the Senate hearing on July 8. 
Anti-abortion protesters gather on the ground floor as abortion rights protesters gather on the balcony of the outdoor rotunda of the State Capitol on July 8. 
Abortion rights activists on the balcony react as an anti-abortion group prays below during the Senate hearing on July 8. 
Opponents of the abortion bill walk in circles around supporters of the bill as a committee holds hearings on the bill at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday, July 2. Gov. Rick Perry called this second legislative special session in an effort to pass the restrictive abortion law through the legislature. The first attempt was defeated after opponents were able to stall the vote until after the first special session had ended. 
A man blows a horn as supporters and opponents of an abortion bill gather near a hearing for the bill at the state Capitol on July 2. 
Abortion rights activists Melissa Gabriel, Ally Parks and Tina Johnson look over anti-abortion demonstrators on July 2. 
Anti-abortion activist Pamela Whitehead of Katy, Texas, argues with an abortion rights activist on July 2. 
Opponents of an abortion bill chant outside the hearing for the bill on July 2. 
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. 
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. 
Anti-abortion activists 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. 
Opponents of an abortion bill yell chants outside a hearing about the bill on July 2. 
Protestors gather in the gallery of the Senate chamber on July 1. Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
Controversial Texas abortion bill
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- Measure would require abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers
- It also would ban abortions past 20 weeks of gestation
- State Senate panel to vote on whether to advance measure Thursday
- Senator tried to kill the bill two weeks ago, but governor called special session to take it up
(CNN) -- The Texas House of Representatives approved a measure Wednesday that would place broad new restrictions on abortions in the state.
A state Senate committee is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to send its version of the bill to the full Senate.
The legislation would ban abortions past 20 weeks of gestation, require abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers, tighten usage guidelines for the drug RU486 and require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic at which they're providing abortion services.
The House's move comes two weeks after state Sen. Wendy Davis tried to block the bill with a filibuster, talking for more than 10 hours in an attempt to run out the clock on the legislative session.
Wendy Davis: Filibuster 'amazing moment' Gov. Rick Perry called a special session so the legislature could take up the measure again.
The measure passed the House on Wednesday with a 98-49 vote after hours of debate over proposed amendments.
In Texas, fetal pain factors into abortion debate
Critics said the measure would shut down most abortion clinics in Texas, denying access to many in rural communities, and force women to seek dangerous back alley abortions. Many Democrats, like Rep. Mary Gonzales, felt the motives for the legislation were less than pure.
"Is this bill more about women's health or political futures," she asked Tuesday.
But for Republicans like Rep. Jason Villalba, the bill's passage was intensely personal. Holding up a sonogram of his 13-week-old son, he voiced his support.
"I will fight, and I will fight, and I will fight to protect my baby," he said.
Proponents say that the bill is necessary to raise the standard of care for women in Texas and will protect 20-week-old babies at the point that they begin to have the ability to feel pain.
On Tuesday, Davis conceded to CNN the abortion legislation was likely to pass this time around.
"It will be very difficult because unfortunately the voices that have been here crying out against this bill are not going to be heard," Davis told CNN.
"But I don't think it's the end. It's the beginning of a battle line," she added.
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In Ireland, upcoming vote could ease total ban on abortions
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