· Related development
Council rejects the committee's amended and original ordinances, each 4-1
After a public hearing required by the Charter, the council considered two versions of the ordinance: the original proposed by the initiating committee and a version the committee amended on June 6, 2024. A motion by Councilmember Tom Scherlen to reject the amended ordinance passed 4-1, and a motion by Scherlen to reject the original ordinance passed 4-1; Mayor Stanley and Councilmembers Craft, Scherlen and Simpson voted for both motions and Councilmember Don Tipps against. No action was taken on an item to order an election. Mayor Stanley said adopting the ordinance would "exercise an authority I don't believe I have."[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Cole StanleyJosh CraftDon TippsTom ScherlenLes Simpson
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
The June 11, 2024 minutes record two motions on the ordinance: "Motion to reject the amended ordinance as stated by Tom Scherlen, second by Les Simpson," which passed 4-1, and "Motion to reject the original Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance as it was presented to council by Tom Scherlen, second by Josh Craft," which passed 4-1. On both, Cole Stanley, Josh Craft, Tom Scherlen and Les Simpson voted aye and Don Tipps voted no. The minutes record "No action was taken" on the item to consider ordering an election. [1]
- Votes for
- 4
- Votes against
- 1
- ✓ Verified
The agenda memo attached two versions: "The ordinance as originally proposed by the Initiating Committee (Original)" and "The ordinance as later amended by the Initiating Committee (Amended)," dated June 6, 2024, with no staff recommendation. Earlier that day the council consulted the City Attorney in executive session on the "Proposed ordinance outlawing abortion and declaring Amarillo a Sanctuary City for the Unborn." The Amarillo Tribune reported that the amended version narrowed the transportation provision from anyone passing through Amarillo to Amarillo residents. [2][3][5]
- ⚠ Sources differ
City records give two dates for the council's rejection of the proposed ordinance.
- Date
- 2024-06-11
The June 11, 2024 minutes, the recitals of Resolutions 08-13-24-2 and 09-10-24-1 ("on June 11, 2024, failed to enact the Proposed Ordinance"), and the committee's June 28 certificate.
Reported value 2[7]
- Date
- 2024-06-25
The background list in the August 13, 2024 staff memo, which states that on June 25, 2024 the proposed ordinance came before the council and was rejected 4-1.
- ✓ Verified
During deliberation Councilmember Scherlen asked whether employers whose health plans cover abortion or related travel would be liable for aiding and abetting; City Attorney Bryan McWilliams said it would qualify and that state law already covered the issue. Councilmember Craft said he could not approve the amended draft in its current form. Councilmember Simpson said he could not answer "yes" to whether the council was on solid legal footing, whether there was a compelling need to amend state law, and whether the ordinance protected the unborn. [5]
- ✓ Verified
Representative and spokesman of the initiating committee: The committee's representative told the council the ordinance would close "loopholes" in state law, including prohibiting abortion-inducing drugs in the city and abortions on Amarillo residents regardless of location, and said the committee's attorney, a former Texas Solicitor General, would represent the City at no charge. [5][4]
- ✓ Verified
Potter-Randall County Medical Society: The Potter-Randall County Medical Society, which represents about 400 physicians, said it takes no position on the legality of abortion but raised concerns about the ordinance's effects on physician-patient communication, referrals, legal and ethical issues, and recruiting and retaining providers; a physician read the society's statement during the June 11 public hearing. [6][5]