Texas House Committee Approves Abortion Bill

Would ban abortions 20 weeks after conception

A controversial abortion measure in the Texas Legislature advanced early Wednesday morning, after a House committee heard from some of the nearly 2,000 witnesses that showed up to testify on the bill.

The House State Affairs Committee approved the bill an an 8-3 party line vote, according to news reports.

It was the first action on the bill since the Legislature returned to the Texas capitol for a special session starting on Monday. The full chamber will now take up the bill next week.