The Legislature is considering bills that would lift long-standing restrictions on how Texas’ panel can investigate maternal deaths and near-misses.

Maternal deaths, and the committee that reviews them, have been in the spotlight since Texas banned nearly all abortions. At least three women have died and countless others have come forward with stories of medical care delayed or denied due to confusion or fear of the strict laws, which come with up to life in prison for performing a prohibited abortion.

The work of reviewing maternal deaths has come under increasing conservative scrutiny in some states. In Georgia, the governor removed the entire board from their posts over confidentiality issues after ProPublica reported on an abortion-related death, and Idaho disbanded its committee in 2023. Lawmakers later restored the board.