A quiet battle over reproductive rights has ended in San Antonio, with the city dismantling its fund to help residents travel out of state for abortions. The decision comes after a legal challenge from the state and the passage of a new law sharply restricting how public funds can be used.
Last year, San Antonio City Council approved $100,000 for a Reproductive Justice Fund, specifically intended to alleviate the financial burden of out-of-state abortion access. This move immediately drew the ire of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who filed a lawsuit alleging the city was deliberately working against state law.
The legal fight concluded with the case dismissed, though Paxton declared it a victory, stating the city’s attempt to fund “abortion tourism” had been defeated. He framed the issue as a defense of “the sanctity of unborn life,” vowing to prevent any use of public funds for abortion-related expenses.
San Antonio’s city attorney offered a different perspective, asserting the city had acted within legal bounds. They pointed out the state initiated and then abandoned the lawsuit, emphasizing the city never relinquished its position and always intended to operate within the law.
At the heart of the dispute was the Texas Constitution’s “gift clause,” which Paxton argued the travel fund violated. A court initially sided with Paxton, issuing a temporary injunction to halt fund disbursements while the case progressed.
The situation became even more restrictive with the enactment of Senate Bill 33, signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott. This legislation explicitly prohibits the use of public money for any “logistical support” related to abortion, and empowers citizens to sue if they believe the law is broken.
City officials maintain that before SB 33, they believed the fund’s use for out-of-state travel was permissible. Once the new law took effect, they ceased plans to distribute funds for that specific purpose, remaining committed to legal compliance.
While the portion of the Reproductive Justice Fund dedicated to abortion travel has been eliminated, the broader fund continues to operate. It now focuses on services like pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, and STI testing – resources that do not directly involve abortion access.
San Antonio is not alone in this shift. The city of Austin, which had allocated $400,000 to a similar fund, also discontinued its abortion travel assistance following the passage of SB 33, signaling a broader crackdown on public funding for out-of-state abortion care.
