This Thursday, unless federal Judge Sam Sparks intervenes, all Texas women will be forced to go through mandatory ultrasounds and listen to a description of the fetus and the fetal heartbeat before obtaining an abortion.  The law is being challenged by the Center for Reproductive Rights, and a ruling from Sparks is expected sometime before Thursday.

A new bevy of state laws will be going into effect on the same day, most of them focused on reducing regulation in the state as much as possible.  So just remember, the Texas government believes there needs to be less oversight on products at the Farmer’s Market and whether or not you can catch catfish with your bare hands, but doesn’t think you have the right to decide if you want hear fetal heart tones before ending a pregnancy, even if you were raped or the fetus is not compatible with life.