Texas Senate Bill 14 (2023)

Texas Senate Bill 14
Texas Legislature
  • AN ACT relating to prohibitions on the provision to certain children of procedures and treatments for gender transitioning, gender reassignment, or gender dysphoria and on the use of public money or public assistance to provide those procedures and treatments.
Citation[1]
Territorial extent Texas
Passed byTexas Senate
PassedMay 17, 2023
Passed byTexas House of Representatives
PassedMay 15, 2023
Signed byGreg Abbott
SignedJune 2, 2023
EffectiveSeptember 1, 2023
IntroducedMarch 8, 2023
Summary
Prohibits medical professionals from administering gender-affirming medical care to Texans under eighteen years of age.
Status: In force

Texas Senate Bill 14 (SB 14) is a 2023 law in the state of Texas that prohibits most forms of gender-affirming care for minors. It passed the Texas Legislature in May 2023 and was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott on June 2, 2023.[1][2][3]

SB 14 was challenged in court in July 2023 by different legal groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, in Loe v. Texas.[4][5] The Supreme Court of Texas upheld the law on June 28, 2024, in an 8-1 ruling.[6][7][8]

Provisions

[edit]

Senate Bill 14 prohibits medical professionals from administering gender-affirming care, such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and puberty blockers, to Texans under eighteen years of age.[9] It requires the Texas Medical Board to revoke licenses from medical professionals who violate SB 14. Said professionals may also be sued for violations of the law.[10][11][12]

Reactions

[edit]

Support

[edit]

Nearly all Republican members of the Texas Legislature supported SB 14.[13] Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick endorsed the bill, calling gender-affirming care for minors "abhorrent."[14]

Opposition

[edit]

The Austin City Council passed a resolution in May 2024 stating that they would not enforce SB 14 in Austin.[15]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Texas Legislature Online - 88(R) History for SB 14". Texas Legislature Online. March 8, 2023. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  2. ^ Nguyen, Alex; Melhado, William (May 12, 2023). "Texas moves closer to blocking gender-affirming care for transgender kids | The Texas Tribune". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  3. ^ Nguyen, Alex; Melhado, William (June 2, 2023). "Texas bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender kids is now law | The Texas Tribune". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  4. ^ "Loe v. Texas | American Civil Liberties Union". American Civil Liberties Union. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  5. ^ Jester, Amanda; Hoff, Ashley; Broad, Rosalyn; Stefanova Kelly, Marina; Edward Hood, Taylor (February 4, 2024). "Update on Texas Senate Bill 14-Related Lawsuits". McDermott Will & Emery. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  6. ^ Perez, Angelica (July 2, 2024). "FAQ: Texas' SB 14 banning medical care for trans youth". Houston Landing. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  7. ^ McCaskill, Nolan (February 28, 2025). "North Texas Republican's bill would ban gender-affirming care for All texans, even adults". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  8. ^ Goodman, J. David (June 28, 2024). "Texas Supreme Court Upholds Ban on Gender Transition Care for Minors - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  9. ^ Rajwani-Dharsi, Naheed (September 1, 2023). "Texas ban on gender-affirming care for minors takes effect - Axios Dallas". Axios Dallas. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  10. ^ Broussard, Kailey (October 17, 2024). "AG Ken Paxton sues North Texas doctor accused of providing gender-affirming care | KERA News". KERA News. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  11. ^ Moore, Xiomara (October 17, 2024). "Ken Paxton sues Dallas doctor over care for transgender teens | The Texas Tribune". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  12. ^ Hlavinka, Elizabeth (November 12, 2024). "Experts warn of "chilling" effect of Texas attorney general suing doctors over gender-affirming care". Salon. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  13. ^ Martínez-Beltrán, Sergio; Rivera, Elena (May 18, 2023). "Texas Legislature passes ban on gender-affirming medical care for trans minors". KUT News. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  14. ^ Patrick, Dan (April 4, 2023). "Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Statement on the Passage of Senate Bill 14 - Ending Child Gender Modification". Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Texas. Retrieved June 24, 2025.
  15. ^ Fisher, Lina (February 18, 2025). "APD won't enforce SB 14 as Paxton and Trump further attack gender-affirming health care". Austin Monitor. Retrieved June 24, 2025.