This is one of the most counter-cultural state laws to occur in recent memory. No, it’s not a law restricting abortion but it is a law which recognizes the humanity of the unborn.

The Texas Tribune reports that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission adopted new rules on disposition of fetal tissue which take effect later this month requiring hospitals, abortion clinics and other health care facilities to pay for and arrange for the cremation or burial of all remains regardless of the period of gestation.

What this does is prevent the dumping of fetal remains in landfills. The requirements do not apply to miscarriages.

Gov. Greg Abbott, was quoted as saying that he doesn’t believe fetal remains should be “treated like medical waste and disposed of in landfills.”

In contrast, Heather Busby, executive director of NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, accused the governor of “playing politics with people’s private healthcare decisions” even though this doesn’t affect people’s decisions one iota. It’s just a bare minimum way for the state to acknowledge that human beings should not be treated as garbage.

*subhead*Respect.*subhead*