Texas Wins Legal Battle, Biden-Era Abortion-Privacy Rule Overturned
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, with the Trump DOJ, successfully overturned a Biden-era rule that restricted states from investigating abortions and gender-transition-related medical records.
AUSTIN, TX — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Friday that a Biden-era rule restricting the sharing of medical information on abortions and “gender transitions” has been permanently vacated. Paxton’s office, working with the Trump Justice Department, filed a joint motion to close the years-long case, declaring a victory for state law enforcement.
The rule, issued in the final year of the Biden administration, amended the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and related health privacy regulations to limit hospitals’ disclosure of information relevant to investigations of reproductive healthcare. Paxton argued it was designed to obstruct states’ ability to enforce their own laws, calling it a “disrespect for the law.”
With the rule now overturned, Paxton said the decision restores Texas’s power to uphold its laws, calling it a “crucial win for Texas, the unborn, and the rule of law.” Twelve states currently restrict most or all abortions, while pro-abortion advocates continue efforts to expand access.
Previously, UOJ reported that AG Paxton had issued cease-and-desist letters to three organizations accused of shipping abortion-inducing pills into Texas.
