On March 2, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, a case involving Texas’s standards for abortionists, in order to consider what health and safety standards a state may implement. It is a momentous case — the reach of which will extend far beyond Texas, as it will likely determine the lengths to which abortionists and their apologists can go to block common-sense health and safety regulations nationwide.

At issue is Texas H.B. 2, which Gov. Rick Perry signed into law in 2013. It’s designed to protect women against itinerant abortionists like Kermit Gosnell, whose murder trial had just ended. It requires abortionists to carry hospital admitting privileges and provide contact information to smooth transfer in emergency situations, requires abortion facilities to meet health and safety standards common to outpatient practice, mandates adherence to tested drug protocols for chemical abortions and prohibits late-term abortions.