Texas House panel leaves bill requiring burial of fetal remains pending in committee

The Texas House Committee on State Affairs weighed a bill on Wednesday that would require the burial or cremation of fetal remain. A similar rule was blocked by a federal court in January.

The bill from state Rep. Byron Cook, R-Corsicana, would require health providers to bury or cremate the remains of aborted fetuses and create penalties for providers who do not follow this procedure. 

The bill was left pending in committee. View our liveblog below for a recap of the proceedings.

Read more from The Texas Tribune here:

• Senate Health and Human Services Committee members heard emotional testimony from reproductive rights and anti-abortion advocates over Senate Bill 8, Senate Bill 415 and Senate Bill 258.
• U.S. District Court Judge Sam Sparks ruled Texas cannot require health providers to bury or cremate fetuses, delivering another blow to state leaders in the reproductive rights debate.