A Texas lawmaker who helped pioneer the state's restrictive abortion laws introduced a bill on Friday to clarify medical exceptions allowed under the law, representing a pivot from Republican legislators who have defended the state's abortion ban in the face of lawsuits and medical scrutiny.

Kentucky’s abortion ban allows an exception when the life of the mother is at risk, but where does the law draw that line? State lawmakers debated that question at length Thursday before delivering a “clarification” bill to the governor’s desk.