12/2/2025

Our primary goal in creating this website is to provide readers with information about the accessibility of emergency contraception on and around the University of Texas at Austin campus. Although we abhor the politicization of this issue, we must acknowledge the reality that we are currently experiencing. Emergency contraception occupies a fragile position in today’s political landscape, and changing legislative and judicial decisions at the federal and state-levels can make it difficult to track the evolution of your rights. Because of this, we want to offer our best attempt to summarize your legal rights so that you can make informed decisions when choosing whether emergency contraception is right for you.

Below, we will summarize important laws, judicial decisions, and proposed laws as they arise, and monitor the legality of various types of emergency contraception. We will cut through the legal jargon based on advice of legal experts to provide you with the most up-to-date, easy-to-understand guide to your emergency contraception options in Texas. We advise that you pay close attention to the dates listed for when this page was last updated, as this information is always subject to change.

While everything on our website is researched and produced with the utmost care and includes our sources, we want to make clear the disclaimer that we include on every page on our website, which is that ReproInfoUT is a student-run organization and is not affiliated with any medical center, legal institution, or university. The information provided is compiled from professional sources and synthesized by students, so it is for informational purposes only. We encourage you to review the original sources and consult a qualified healthcare or legal professional for any questions or concerns that may arise. While we hope that this information is helpful to you, it is always best practice to do your own research.

Know Your Rights.

CURRENT LAWS IN TEXAS

Abortion

2/18/2026

In Texas, abortion is illegal in almost all cases. After the federal court decision that guaranteed a right to abortion was overturned in 2022 (Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization), Texas immediately outlawed access to abortion.

Texas defines “abortion” as “the act of using or prescribing an instrument, a drug, a medicine, or any other substance, device, or means with the intent to cause the death of an unborn child (unborn child is defined as the embryo/fetus from “fertilization until birth”) of a woman known to be pregnant. The term does not include birth control devices or oral contraceptives” (Texas Health and Safety Code, Sec. 245.002). This means that the abortion pill is also not permitted. However, the law clearly outlines that birth control pills and devices are legal, as well as medical procedures or medication required to remove a deceased fetus after a miscarriage.

The only exception is when a licensed physician performs an abortion to save the life of the pregnant person (Texas Health and Safety Code, Sec. 170A.002). Specifically, the physician must reasonably assess that the pregnancy “places the female at risk of death or poses a serious risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function.”

Key Takeaways:

Abortion (and the abortion pill) is illegal in Texas at all stages of pregnancy
The law specifically allows birth control, oral contraceptives, and medical action needed after a miscarriage
If the pregnant person’s life is found to be endangered by continuing the pregnancy, an abortion is permitted (mother’s life exception)

“The Pill”

2/18/2026

Many abortion, emergency contraception, and oral contraception pills are on the market today. Here, we will review the function and current legality of each.

Abortion pill (mifepristone and misoprostol) is illegal ❌
- In the US, the first pill is often the brand name Mifeprex and the second is often the brand name Cytotec. Together they are sometimes called Plan C.
- Used during the first 10 weeks of pregnancy (removes the fetus after fertilization, which is why it violates Texas law).
- “The medication mifepristone is the first step of a pill abortion. This stops progesterone, the main hormone that supports the developing pregnancy. This leads the pregnancy to detach from the uterus wall, then it stops growing. Mifepristone also causes the body to release prostaglandins, chemicals that start contractions in the uterus. The second step in the pill abortion is the medication misoprostol. This is a lab-made version of prostaglandins, and it brings on stronger contractions that push the pregnancy out of your body.” - GoodRx
Emergency contraception pill (levonorgestrel or ulipristal), sometimes called the “morning-after pill,” is legal ✔️
- Levonorgestrel - Includes brand names like Plan B, Next Choice, or My Way
  - Prevents fertilization by “preventing a woman's egg from fully developing. It may also prevent the attachment of the woman's egg to the wall of the uterus (womb).” - Mayo Clinic
  - Levonorgestrel pills have been labeled an emergency contraceptive instead of an abortifacient (something that causes an abortion) by the FDA and are legal in every US state, including Texas.
- Ulipristal - Includes brand names like Ella
  - Prevents fertilization by “preventing or delaying the release of an egg from the ovary. It also may work by changing the lining of the uterus (womb) to prevent development of a pregnancy.” - MedlinePlus
  - This pill is targeted by pro-life groups because some studies have found the primary acting ingredient, ulipristal acetate, to be an abortifacient. However, ulipristal pills remain legal in all US states, including Texas, with a prescription and is recognized by the FDA as an emergency contraceptive.
Oral contraception pill (combined or progestin-only), often called the birth control pill, is legal* ✔️
- Many types and brands of oral contraception pills are available on the market today, the processes and descriptions of which are somewhat outside of our scope (for more information you can look here). However, the right to birth control pills is written into the Texas Health and Safety Code (Texas Health and Safety Code, Sec. 245.002).
  - Despite this, there has been some controversy surrounding new legislation intended to secure the right to birth control, which has been rejected by Republicans in the Texas legislature.