The Texas Senate Health & Human Services committee is set to hear S.B. 619  on Tuesday, March 18th to protect the religious freedom of doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other health care providers! See the posting here.

Currently, there is a patchwork of federal and state conscience protection provisions in place, but Texas lacks an overarching protection that addresses all health care services for health care professionals. S.B. 619 is the answer.

For example, this bill would protect:

A pharmacist who declines for reasons of conscience to dispense contraception because he or she believes the medication acts as an abortifacient.

A doctor who refuses due to religious convictions to assist with a sterilization or physician-assisted suicide procedure

A surgeon who declines to refer patients to out-of-state abortion providers.

We need your help by showing up and testifying at the hearing!  Texas medical professionals should not feel forced to choose between adhering to their moral convictions or leaving their profession.

What: Committee Hearing on S.B. 619 – Medical Conscience Protections for Healthcare Providers

When: Tuesday March 18th at 1:00pm (or upon adjournment of the floor session)

Where: Texas Capitol Building, Senate Chamber

Texas Values policy team members will be standing by at the Capitol to assist supporters.

Please also consider calling the committee members and expressing your support for S.B. 619:

(Chair) Sen. Lois Kolkhorst: (512) 463-0118

Sen. Charles Perry: (512) 463-0128

Sen. Cesar Blanco: (512) 463-0129

Sen. Molly Cook: (512) 463-0115

Sen. Bob Hall: (512) 463-0102

Sen. Kelly Hancock: (512) 463-0109

Sen. Bryan Hughes: (512) 463-0101

Sen. Borris Miles: (512) 463-0113

Sen. Kevin Sparks (author of the S.B. 619; please thank him for filing)

(512) 463-0131

By protecting the conscience rights of doctors and nurses we are actually protecting the quality of care available to our families. After all, who wants a doctor or nurse without a conscience?