The Texas Senate gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow private citizens to sue out-of-state providers of abortion pills for $100,000 or more. The Senate must vote once more before the bill can head to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.

Abortion is always banned in Texas unless a pregnant woman’s life or a major bodily function is at risk. But some Texans have still accessed the abortion medications mifepristone and misoprostol through the mail with a telemedicine prescription from an out-of-state doctor.

House Bill 7 aims to put a stop to that practice by allowing lawsuits against anyone who manufactures, prescribes or helps a woman in Texas access those pills. A pregnant woman who takes the pills would not be liable under House Bill 7, which has been characterized by its supporters as a protective measure for women.

Lawmakers behind the bill have cited instances of women receiving abortion pills through the mail without adequate instructions for how to use them, and experiencing medical complications.

​​​​​​​Critics point out that the pills are FDA-approved and broadly considered safe by medical experts — and that self-administered abortion is one of the only options remaining for women seeking abortions.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines last week — but many healthy Texans may face new hurdles in getting the shots this fall.

The FDA approved updated formulations from the drugmakers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax for people over the age of 65 and those who have an underlying condition that puts them at risk for severe illness. This policy marks a departure from previous years, when the vaccines have been approved for most Americans, regardless of age and health status.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are a wide range of risk factors that could count as underlying conditions, from diabetes to asthma to pregnancy. "Physical inactivity" is also on the list.

"The list of conditions that qualify people under the age of 64 are pretty broad, and I'm pretty sure most people would fit into a category," said Rannon Ching, the pharmacist-in-charge at Tarrytown Pharmacy.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also indicated in a social media post that people interested in a shot would generally be able to get one if they consult with a doctor.