AUSTIN, TX — Gov. Greg Abbott, as expected, signed House Bill 214 into law on Tuesday, a measure that will require women seeking abortions to buy separate insurance for the procedure.

Earlier efforts by members of the Democratic minority to include exceptions from the law for abortions stemming from fetal abnormalities, rape or incest failed. Instead, the measure advanced with comfortable voting margins by conservatives pushing for it, passing the Senate on Aug. 13 in a 20-10 vote and in the House on Aug. 9 in a 92-46 vote.

Set to take effect Dec. 1, the law (dubbed "rape insurance" by its most vocal critics) requires women seeking abortions to pay a separate health premium for what lawmakers championing the measure deemed as non-emergency abortions.