A Texas law that bans most abortions went into effect on Sept. 1 after the Supreme Court didn’t respond to an emergency motion that asked it to block the law.
The legislation explicitly forbids state officials from enforcing it. Instead, private citizens—except for an individual who impregnated a woman through rape or incest—may file lawsuits against doctors, clinics, and anyone involved in an abortion that violates the law.
If someone who brings a lawsuit prevails, they will be awarded at least $10,000 for each abortion that the defendant performed or helped with.
State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican who sponsored the bill, has called it “the most powerful pro-life legislation in Texas history” and has said it will serve as a model for the country.
The Republican-controlled legislature passed the act earlier this year. It was then signed by Gov. Greg Abbott.
More than 20 abortion providers sued state officials and district judges in July, alleging the law was unconstitutional in light of the Supreme Court’s 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade.
Whole Woman’s Health, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, and other providers asked the court to stop the law from going into effect.
Some 85 to 90 percent of women who get abortions in Texas are at least six weeks into pregnancy, according to abortion providers.
The appeal went to Justice Samuel Alito due to court assignments.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, and other attorneys for the defendants urged Alito not to intervene.
Alito didn’t rule on the matter, according to the public docket. That meant the law went into effect at midnight.
“Texas is now the first state ever to enforce a heartbeat law,” Texas Right to Life, a pro-life group, said in a statement.
Amy Hagstrom Miller, founder and CEO of Austin clinic Whole Woman’s Health, said on Twitter that the team at the clinic had completed an abortion for its “last patient” before the law went into effect.
Providers have said they would not continue carrying out abortions if the law took effect.