SAN ANTONIO — A San Antonio city councilwoman is introducing a resolution aimed at protecting abortion rights.
Councilwoman Teri Castillo held a news conference Wednesday making the announcement more than a month after the US Supreme Court officially overturned Roe v. Wade.
The decision enacted a trigger law in Texas that bans abortions in the state.
“We will protect San Antonio women and the right to healthcare,” Councilwoman Castillo said in the news conference.
According to the resolution draft, city funds would not be used to store or catalog any report of abortion, miscarriage, or other reproductive healthcare act for the purpose of pursuing a criminal investigation.
The resolution says this does not apply in cases where coercion or force is used against a pregnant person.
Councilwoman Castillo was asked if this means authorities like the San Antonio Police Department will investigate abortions.
“With the city charter, the city council cannot direct SAPD or the Chief on which laws to enforce, but we can give a policy recommendation to not criminalize women,” Castillo responded.
The resolution is similar to the GRACE Act passed by the city of Austin earlier this week. Some of the key differences are that the Austin resolution directs its city manager to designate abortion as the lowest possible priority for criminal investigation.
As part of the resolution, the city council wants to make abortion access a priority in the city’s legislative agenda for the State of Texas legislative session next year.
"The hope here is that we show our legislative folks, whether it’s folks at the state or federal level, that we must do something," Councilwoman Castillo said.
Council members who stood in support of the resolution included Mayor Ron Nirenberg, council members Mario Bravo (District 1), Phyllis Viagran (District 3), Melissa Cabello Havrda (District 6), and John Courage (District 10).
Other council members including Manny Pelaez (District 8) expressed they will support the resolution at next week's meeting.
Bexar County district attorney Joe Gonzales also spoke in support.
Read the full resolution below:
This is a developing story and will be updated.