The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Texas law H.B. 2 is constitutional because the law’s intent is increasing the safety for women who are seeking to end their child’s life via abortion.

“The State truly intends that women only receive an abortion in facilities that can provide the highest quality of care and safety—the stated legitimate purpose of H.B. 2,” the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans wrote. “Plaintiffs bore the burden of proving that H.B. 2 was enacted with an improper purpose. …  They failed to proffer competent evidence contradicting the legislature’s statement of a legitimate purpose for H.B. 2.”

The ruling means that abortion clinics in the state must meet the same standards as a surgical center and that doctors at any abortion clinic must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of the clinic.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the decision was a “victory for life and women’s health.”

“H.B. 2 both protects the unborn and ensures Texas women are not subjected to unsafe and unhealthy conditions,” Mr. Paxton said in a statement. “Today’s decision by the Fifth Circuit validates that the people of Texas have authority to establish safe, common-sense standards of care necessary to ensure the health of women.”

Abortion providers and women’s rights groups will try to appeal the decision.