Texans Celebrate Bill Banning Child Genital Mutilation Advancing in Texas Senate

Texas is one step closer to enacting a ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. On Friday, the Texas House of Representatives took a preliminary vote on Senate Bill 14, which would prohibit the administration of puberty blockers and hormone therapy to individuals under 18 years old.

Representative Tom Oliverson, a Republican from Cypress, argued on the House floor that gender dysphoria should be treated with counseling rather than gender-affirming care. House Democrats presented 19 amendments for SB 14, but all of them were rejected by the GOP-led chamber.

With the House's preliminary approval, SB 14 is now one procedural vote away from being passed. If approved, the bill would then head to the Senate for discussion of any amendments added during the House debate, and, if passed, would ultimately go to the governor's desk for signature.