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Panel reviews SB 33 to bar local governments from funding abortion travel and related support
Summary
Senator Donna Campbell laid out Senate Bill 33 to the Committee on State Affairs, saying the measure would stop local governments from contracting with abortion providers, their affiliates or abortion-assistance entities and prohibit taxpayer-funded logistical support for abortions.
Senator Donna Campbell laid out Senate Bill 33 to the Committee on State Affairs, saying the measure would stop local governments from contracting with abortion providers, their affiliates or abortion-assistance entities and prohibit taxpayer-funded logistical support for abortions. “Let's close this loophole and put a stop to taxpayer funded abortion travel expenses,” Campbell said as she introduced the bill.
Councilman Mark White of the San Antonio City Council testified in favor of SB 33 but clarified he spoke on his own behalf, not for the city. White said the bill raises questions about the appropriate role of municipal government and is a taxpayer-protection measure: “We have got to protect our taxpayers. We have got to use their money on the things that they're asking for,” White said, citing infrastructure and public safety needs in his district.
Patrick Von Dolan of the San Antonio Family Association described the city’s budget actions and a series of requests for proposals that he said were intended to fund abortion-related services. Von Dolan said the San Antonio City Council initially budgeted $500,000 in a new reproductive-justice line item in the 2024 budget, later narrowed that funding, and more recently allocated $100,000 for travel-related assistance. He said his group and others filed suit against the city on Oct. 17, 2023; that case is pending before the Fourth Court of Appeals.
Senator Campbell and invited witnesses framed SB 33 as intended to prevent local government efforts that, in their view, circumvent state pro-life laws by underwriting travel or services that facilitate abortions. Testimony cited the Hyde Amendment at the federal level as an analogous taxpayer-protection policy and referenced the Texas Regulatory Consistency Act as background on state limits to local government action.
No opposing invited witnesses were recorded on the committee record during this segment. The chair left SB 33 pending for further invited and public testimony; the committee recessed until 30 minutes after the Senate’s adjournment.
The committee did not vote on SB 33 during this session; further testimony and any amendments will be considered when the committee reconvenes.
