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Governor Calls Another Special Session To Vote On Abortion Restrictions

Shelley Kofler
/
KERA News

A victory for those opposing new abortion restrictions in Texas may be short-lived.

Gov. Rick Perry has asked state lawmakers to take up strict new abortion rules in a second special session to start Monday.

The House passed legislation that would have prohibited abortions in Texas after 20 weeks of pregnancy and placed new requirements on doctors and centers performing abortions.

But the bill died  after Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth led a filibuster of more than 10 hours and hundreds of rowdy protesters kept senators from signing the legislation before Tuesday's  midnight deadline.

During the 30-day special session lawmakers will also consider transportation funding and a mandatory sentencing law that also failed when the clock ran out.

Former KERA staffer Shelley Kofler was news director, managing editor and senior reporter. She is an award-winning reporter and television producer who previously served as the Austin bureau chief and legislative reporter for North Texas ABC affiliate WFAA-TV.