Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.
In 2025, Texas enacted House Bill 229. This bill defines certain words — e.g., female, woman, male, man — when they are used in other laws. It also defines "sex" as "an individual's biological sex, either male or female." These definitions apply in cases where other laws didn't already have a formal definition.
In addition, Senate Bill 1188 requires that electronic health records list a person's "biological sex" at birth. The bill says those health records may only be amended due to clerical error or a diagnosed sexual development disorder.
Prior to those changes, Attorney General Ken Paxton issued opinion KP-0489 regarding the validity of district court orders that direct state agencies to amend a person’s "sex" designation on state identification documents.
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 2024 stopped accepting court orders that change the sex of an individual or "combined" orders that issue a name change and a gender marker change in the same document. DPS is responsible for issuing driver licenses and state IDs.
Senate Bill 8 goes into effect on December 4, 2025. This law requires that in government-owned buildings, multiple-occupancy private spaces be designated for use only by individuals of one sex. This includes restrooms and locker rooms.
This bill applies to:
It also places restrictions on correctional facilities and certain family violence shelters.
This law can be enforced by civil penalty or by filing a lawsuit.
Subchapter Y of Chapter 161 in the Texas Health & Safety Code prohibits physicians from providing certain medical procedures and treatments for children under 18 years of age.
With some exceptions, the law says a health care provider may not:
Note The library cannot tell you what the law means for your situation.