A federal lawsuit filed Friday seeks to overturn portions of Texas ' new abortion law , considered among the most restrictive legislation in the nation , just weeks before it takes effect . The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Austin by Planned Parenthood on behalf of more than a dozen women 's health care providers across Texas alleges the law violates the constitutional rights of women and puts unreasonable demands on doctors who perform abortions . The law bans abortions past 20 weeks of gestation , mandates abortion clinics upgrade facilities to become ambulatory surgical centers , tightens usage guidelines for the drug RU486 , and requires doctors who perform abortions to have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic at which they 're providing abortion services . The lawsuit specifically targets requirements under the new law that doctors obtain admitting privileges at a local hospital , usage controls on RU486 -- the so-called morning after pill -- and mandates that clinics upgrade to surgical centers . The new law `` would be catastrophic , making essential reproductive health care services for many Texans , especially poor and rural women , practically impossible to access , said Nancy Northup , president and chief executive officer of the Center for Reproductive Rights . Gov . Rick Perry 's spokesman said the lawsuit was not a surprise . `` It 's not surprising that those in the abortion business would oppose these common sense measures to protect women 's health and the lives of children , '' said Josh Havens , the governor 's spokesman . `` Every abortion clinic in Texas can choose to meet these standards and continue operation . Those that do n't are clearly putting profits before patients . '' The 20-week ban takes effect on October 29 , while enforcement for the rest of the bill begins in September 2014 . The bill originally failed to gain approval because of a Democratic filibuster led by state Sen. Wendy Davis . Perry then called the legislature into a second special session to continue consideration of the bill . Davis to run for governor .
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Austin . It was filed by Planned Parenthood on behalf of women 's health care providers . TL;DR A federal judge has blocked a Texas law that would have required doctors to tell patients about the availability and cost of emergency contraception. Gov . Rick Perry 's spokesman says the lawsuit was not a surprise .