Austin , Texas ( CNN ) -- The battle over Texas ' attempts to change its law on abortion ran well into the night at the state capitol in Austin , with thousands milling around , all wanting to be heard during a public hearing . People representing both sides of the issue signed up to testify Tuesday at a House committee meeting on HB2 , a bill that would impose strict new regulations on abortions in the state . The measure seeks to ban abortions past 20 weeks of gestation , mandate abortion clinics to become ambulatory surgical centers , and require doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic at which they 're providing abortion services . Critics said the measure would shut down most abortion clinics in Texas , denying access to many , while proponents say it will raise the standard of care for women in Texas . It was a heated night and middle ground was hard to come by . Anti-abortion activists , all wearing blue shirts , joined together in shared prayer , telling stories of how abortions destroy lives . `` In 1979 I paid a registered physician $ 300 to kill my second child . I hated myself it almost destroyed me , '' Susan Collins said . Texas governor says 'no mob rule ' in Legislature on abortion . Nearby , abortion rights activists , dressed in orange , tried to drown out their opponents with drumming , cheering , and chanting slogans about personal liberty . The opinions of many were summed up by a young woman who yelled , `` I 'm ( expletive ) tired of men trying to tell me what I can and can not do with my body ! '' The initial House bill failed last week after a day and night of drama in which state Sen. Wendy Davis , D-Fort Worth , talked for more than 10 hours in an attempt to run out the clock on the legislative session . But Gov . Rick Perry called a special session so the legislature could take up the measure again . Can Rick Perry overcome last presidential run ? Almost 2,000 people signed up to speak for three minutes , but by the end of the night , fewer than 100 were able to share their thoughts with the committee . Registered nurse Vivian Femmy , who works at a pregnancy crisis center , said she supports the measure . `` I have been there on the front lines with the woman we are talking about today , '' she said . `` I am pro-choice , and I am pro-woman . I am pro-woman getting the kind of abortion care that is the finest care she can get . I support this bill because of what it will do to improve medical standards . '' Elizabeth Grune arrived at the capitol at 8 a.m. and finally got her chance to speak at 6:45 p.m. `` Christians , we need the separation of church and state , '' she said . `` I do n't believe in abortion but it is legal and as such all women deserve equal access . '' The room used by the House committee filled almost immediately , and most people watched the proceedings in nine other rooms . One man who had been waiting to speak against the bill for hours angrily stormed out of the committee room when testimony was closed . `` My grandmother died from a back alley abortion ! '' he shouted . Many abortions rights activists fear the legislation would restrict access to safe abortions and make women turn to more dangerous methods . Outside of the hearing room in an outdoor courtyard , it was prayer circles versus drum circles for more than eight hours . At the end of the night , with more than 1,000 people still waiting to testify , the bill cleared the committee with an 8-3 vote . The Texas Senate must now vote on the version of the bill in one of its committees before both bills can be brought to the full House and Senate floors . A final vote is expected next week . Opinion : The truth about the Texas filibuster and abortion .
Groups from both sides of the abortion debate crowd the Texas capitol . Almost 2,000 people sign up to speak at a House committee hearing . The bill would ban most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy . It passes a committee with an 8-3 vote ; the Senate is looking at its own version .