AUSTIN, Texas -- AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Advocacy groups are asking a federal judge to derail a strict new Texas abortion law that was the center of a high-profile summer filibuster.


The law requires doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals to perform abortions. It also only allows abortions in surgical centers and bans the procedure after 20 weeks, while limiting medication-induced abortions.


Planned Parenthood and other organizations have sued to block as unconstitutional key parts of the law.


A hearing before U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel began with three witnesses Monday. They said the law will hurt women undergoing abortions.


The Texas attorney general's office argues the law is constitutional. Its attorneys said it court that the law seeks to protect "fetal life" as well as the safety of women terminating pregnancies.



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