At the Texas GOP convention held on May 14, 2022, in Houston, Republican delegates proposed a new party platform that suggests severe measures against abortion providers. The platform defines abortion as "homicide" rather than healthcare and calls for the removal of protections that prevent abortion providers from being charged with murder. This could potentially make these providers eligible for the death penalty under Texas law, which allows capital punishment for those convicted of child homicide.
The Texas GOP's platform also includes language advocating for the protection of "preborn children from the moment of fertilization," drawing from the ideology of "abortion abolitionists.” These individuals argue that both abortion providers and patients should be punished as murderers if abortion is seen as equivalent to homicide. However, the platform does not explicitly mention the implications for women seeking abortions.
In a broader scope, the platform reflects long-standing conservative views, referring to homosexuality as an "abnormal lifestyle choice" and condemning gender-affirming care for minors as "child abuse." It also suggests legislation to honor Confederate symbols and returns religious symbols to public spaces.
Votes to adopt the complete platform were set to be tallied later in the week. While party platforms are not legislative mandates, they influence potential bill proposals in the state legislature, which next convenes in January 2025. Legal experts have noted that implementing the death penalty for abortion providers would be difficult, given the current legal procedures and prosecutorial practices in Texas.