Overview
- The Senate approved HB229 on May 28 by a 20-11 party-line vote after it cleared the House.
- The bill defines “woman” as someone born with a reproductive system for ova production and “man” as someone born with a system to fertilize ova.
- Backers say the legislation protects single-sex facilities and athletic categories from transgender participation.
- Opponents warn the measure could invalidate court-ordered gender-marker changes and deepen discrimination against transgender and intersex individuals.
- The law sets no criminal or civil penalties but revises definitions across hundreds of state statutes and now awaits Gov. Greg Abbott’s signature.