The Texas state Senate approved a bill to allow people to sue anyone who makes or distributes abortion medication in and outside of the state, and the legislation now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) desk.

Senators voted 17 to 8 in favor of House Bill 7, which allows private citizens to receive up to $100,000 in damages in successful lawsuits against makers and distributors of the drugs. Abbott is expected to sign the legislation into law.

Under the bill, almost any private citizen can file a lawsuit against abortion drug makers or distributors, with one of the few exceptions being Texas women who take abortion medication to end a pregnancy.

State Senator Bryan Hughes (R), an author of the bill, has argued that it is meant to protect helpless and “precious, little unborn babies” and their mothers from “poisonous, illegal drugs.”

“You manufacture and ship poisonous illegal drugs into Texas, and people are harmed, you will be held accountable,” he said during the Wednesday night........

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