AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ The Texas House has given initial approval to a proposal to allow motorists to get “Choose Life” license plates and added a second “Choose Adoption” specialty plate.
A separate bill approved by the Senate would create the “Choose Life” plates, but not “Choose Adoption.”
Sales of both specialty license plates would raise money for groups that assist women considering adoption and infants waiting to be adopted.
The controversial plates were tacked on in a slew of amendments to a bill that would transfer some duties of the Texas Department of Transportation to a new Department of Motor Vehicles.
Other House efforts to get the plates stalled out after a public hearing.
The House must vote again before the bill heads to the Senate.
Anti-abortion groups and Gov. Rick Perry are pushing the plates. Supporters say Texas would join 19 other states with similar plates.
But abortion rights groups have said the “Choose Life” message is too political and could face legal free-speech challenges.