The Texas Senate on Thursday approved a proposal to construct a monument honoring unborn children on the Capitol grounds.
The , authored by Sen. Tan Parker, a Republican from Flower Mound, would pave the way for the creation of the 鈥淭exas Life Monument,鈥� a statue depicting 鈥渁 mother with an unborn child cradled in a world-shaped womb鈥� that would be installed just north of the Capitol building
According to Parker, the statue would 鈥減rovide a communal space for honoring the dignity of human life and the role of mothers.鈥�
鈥淰alues that resonate deeply with so many Texans,鈥� he added.
This is the second time Parker has pushed for the statue's installation at the Capitol. In 2023, passed out of the Senate, but eventually died in the House.
The monument would be a replica of the 鈥淣ational Life Monument,鈥� created by artist Timothy Schmalz. It would join dozens of other monuments and memorials already on Capitol grounds, commemorating figures and events from Texas and American history.
The resolution requires the monument be fully funded by private donors and installed 鈥渙n a timely basis.鈥� Ashley Sosa, a communications associate for Texas Alliance for Life, during a Senate committee hearing last month that the statue was already 鈥渃ompleted and ready for installation.鈥�
The approval comes as Texas continues to enforce some of the nation鈥檚 most restrictive abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Court鈥檚 2022 decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Under current law, , with no exceptions for rape or incest. The only exception 鈥� to save the life of the pregnant person 鈥� has been widely criticized by physicians for its .
An is currently making its way through the Texas House. Both resolutions would need to be approved before the statue can be installed by the State Preservation Board.
