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Anti-abortion monument one step closer to installation at Texas Capitol after House approval

Timothy Schmalz
The 鈥淭exas Life Monument" would be added to the collection of monuments and memorials already surrounding the Capitol.

An anti-abortion monument is one step closer to being installed at the Texas Capitol after the Texas House on Tuesday approved a resolution authorizing its construction.

The , authored by Republican Sen. Tan Parker of Flower Mound, would authorize the State Preservation Board to approve the installation of the 鈥淭exas Life Monument,鈥 an eight-foot statue depicting 鈥渁 mother with an unborn child cradled in a world-shaped womb鈥 just north of the state Capitol. The measure passed the House on a vote of 98 to 44 after previously clearing the Senate earlier this month.

The proposal now heads to Gov. Greg Abbott for approval.

Republican Rep. Caroline Harris Davila of Round Rock said the statue would be fully funded by private donors, not taxpayer dollars 鈥 and funding has already been raised, according to Harris Davila.

鈥淭he monument would serve as a peaceful space for families to honor motherhood, the strength of women, and the hope and beauty of human life,鈥 Harris Davila said.

The monument would be a replica of the 鈥淣ational Life Monument,鈥 created by artist Timothy Schmalz. It would be added to the collection of monuments surrounding the Capitol, which commemorate a range of historical figures and events from Texas history.

The monument鈥檚 passage comes as Texas maintains a on abortion, implemented after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. State law prohibits nearly all abortions, with no exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

Lucio Vasquez is a breaking news reporter for The Texas Newsroom. Based in Houston, he covers a wide range of urgent stories, from natural disasters and political developments to social justice and criminal justice issues.

A graduate of the University of Houston, Vasquez has built a reputation for swift, accurate coverage of fast-moving events. He can be found on X at and on Instagram at .

Send him story tips at lvasquez@kera.org.