A majority of City Council members on Wednesday said they are willing to spend a portion of the city's new $500,000 Reproductive Justice Fund to help people seek legal abortions out of state. “The Reproductive Justice Fund is about giving women in Texas the option to make their own decisions and not have restrictions forced upon them,” District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and six other council members agreed.
Metro Health proposed setting aside $100,000 of the fund for home pregnancy tests, emergency contraception, home test kits for sexually transmitted infections — and transportation out of state for abortions. Metro Health said the other $400,000 could be spent on addressing food and housing insecurity, sexual education for youth, doula training scholarships and other measures. City Council isn't expected to vote on the fund's rules and guidelines for several months.