Lyft, Uber say they'll cover legal fees for drivers sued under Texas abortion law

The CEO of Lyft also says the company is donating $1 million to Planned Parenthood.

Abrar Al-Heeti Technology Reporter

Abrar Al-Heeti is a technology reporter for CNET, with an interest in phones, streaming, internet trends, entertainment, pop culture and digital accessibility. She's also worked for CNET's video, culture and news teams. She graduated with bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Though Illinois is home, she now loves San Francisco -- steep inclines and all.

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Abrar Al-Heeti

Sept. 3, 2021 2:20 p.m. PT

2 min read

The CEOs of ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft are taking a stance on Senate Bill 8, the Texas law that bans abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Lyft CEO Logan Green said Friday that the company has created a legal defense fund to cover all legal fees for drivers sued under the new law.

"TX SB8 threatens to punish drivers for getting people where they need to go- especially women exercising their right to choose," Green said in a tweet. "Lyft has created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8 while driving on our platform."

TX SB8 threatens to punish drivers for getting people where they need to go— especially women exercising their right to choose. @Lyft has created a Driver Legal Defense Fund to cover 100% of legal fees for drivers sued under SB8 while driving on our platform.
— Logan Green (@logangreen) September 3, 2021

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi retweeted the statement, adding, "Right on @logangreen - drivers shouldn't be put at risk for getting people where they want to go. Team @Uber is in too and will cover legal fees in the same way. Thanks for the push."

Right on @logangreen - drivers shouldn’t be put at risk for getting people where they want to go. Team @Uber is in too and will cover legal fees in the same way. Thanks for the push. https://t.co/85LhOUctSc
— dara khosrowshahi (@dkhos) September 3, 2021

Green added that Lyft is donating $1 million to Planned Parenthood "to ensure that transportation is never a barrier to healthcare access."

The Texas law is one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country, with no exceptions for rape or incest. It allows individuals to sue people aiding in an abortion, including doctors and anyone helping to pay for the procedure or driving the person to a clinic, The New York Times reported.

Earlier this week, Match Group CEO Shar Dubey spoke out against the law, saying in a memo to employees on Wednesday that she's "shocked that I now live in a state where women's reproductive laws are more regressive than most of the world." Additionally, Bumble said on Instagram that it's creating a relief fund "supporting the reproductive rights of women and people across the gender spectrum who seek abortions in Texas."