New Texas Law Gives Hope to Families Told Their Baby “May Not Survive”

No parent ever wants to hear these words at an ultrasound: “Your baby may not survive.”

When doctors deliver a life-limiting diagnosis for a preborn child, families are often devastated—and pressured into abortion, with little guidance on choosing Life.

Now, Texas is changing that.

In a major step toward building a more compassionate, Pro-Life culture, state lawmakers passed the Perinatal Palliative Care Act during the 2025 legislative session. Senate Bill 1233 by Senator Kelly Hancock (R–North Richland Hills) and Representative Valoree Swanson (R–Spring) ensures that families receive real information and resources—not silence or pressure.

Prenatal tests indicate possible health issues in 2–3% of pregnancies, but up to 85% of those results are false. Most parents aren’t told that—and tragically, up to 90% of these babies are aborted. Only 19% of women are informed about specialized care options. Every baby deserves dignity, no matter the diagnosis.

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Perinatal palliative care offers compassionate support to families after a baby is diagnosed in the womb with a serious or life-threatening condition. Care begins at diagnosis and continues until the baby’s first birthday, even if the little one does not make it that long. It includes medical, emotional, spiritual, and practical support from a team of specialists, religious counselors, and community support providers. SB 1233 clarifies that this never includes acts done to cause or hasten the baby’s death.

The law does this by connecting families to nonprofits like Abel Speaks, which walks alongside them through these heartbreaking circumstances.

God created us for community—especially in our hardest moments. The Perinatal Palliative Care Act ensures every family facing a difficult diagnosis receives the guidance and resources they need to love and care for their child, no matter how short that little Life may be.

Too often, families are told abortion is the only “reasonable” response. This law changes that. Texas now affirms: every life has value, no matter how brief or fragile.

One young mother’s story illustrates why this matters.

At her 21-week ultrasound, Ava Trammell was told her baby girl was “incompatible with Life.” Doctors gave her no real options—just a suggestion to fly to Colorado for an abortion or continue the pregnancy without support.

Watch Ava’s Story here.

But, Ava chose Life.

“I know she’s not going to survive,” Ava said, “but I only have so much time with her. Why would I cut it any shorter? She’s safe in my womb… she only knows love and doesn’t know pain. Why would I give her such a painful death when she’s perfectly fine with me?”

Because of SB 1233, future mothers like Ava won’t have to face that decision alone.

This law embodies what it means to be truly Pro-Life: walking with families in both joy and sorrow. By equipping parents with life-affirming options and emotional care, Texas is saying clearly: we value every life, and we will walk with every family.

We are deeply grateful to Senator Hancock and Representative Swanson and their teams for standing up for the most vulnerable and helping families meet unimaginable challenges with dignity, compassion, and hope.