AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Texas House began debating a bill on Tuesday that would impose tough new restrictions on abortions, as national activists on both sides of the issue descended on the Capitol building.

Republican Rep. Jody Laubenberg, of Parker, outlined the bill that would require doctors to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals, only allow abortions in surgical centers, dictate when abortion pills are taken and ban abortions after 20 weeks. Exceptions to the ban would only be allowed when the woman’s life was in imminent danger.

Democrats and women’s rights activists have protested the bill for weeks. The measure failed during the regular session when it failed to win enough support, then died in the first special session due to a 13-hour filibuster by state Sen. Wendy Davis, a Fort Worth Democrat.

Now Republican leaders, including Gov. Rick Perry and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, are intent on passing it quickly through the Republican-controlled Legislature in a second special session. Democrats can do little but slow the bill down, attract as much attention as possible and lay the groundwork for a federal lawsuit to block it once it becomes law.

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