5th Circuit upholds Texas abortion regulations

A federal appeals court has upheld a Texas law requiring abortion providers to conform to ambulatory surgery center standards, paving the way for as many as 10 facilities to close.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with attorneys for the state, who argued the regulations passed by the Texas legislature in 2013 didn’t burden a woman’s right to an abortion but made the practice safer. The same court previously upheld another portion of the regulations, which required abortionists to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. After Texas began enforcing that requirement, the number of abortion facilities in the state dropped from 40 to about 17.

A group of abortionists sued over the law last year, and a lower court judge ruled in their favor. But the 5th Circuit overturned that decision, allowing Texas to move forward with enforcement immediately. The U.S. Supreme Court granted an emergency stay until the appeals court could hear the full case.

Pro-life advocates applauded the Texas laws, passed by a wide margin in both the state House and Senate, as some of the best in the nation. It’s not clear whether abortion providers intend to appeal the 5th Circuit’s decision to the Supreme Court.

Abortion providers say the new regulations will leave only about seven facilities open throughout the entire state, mostly in larger cities. The only exception is in the southern city of McAllen, where the appeals court granted an exemption to the requirements.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.