Austin, TX
Bill to ban gender-affirming care stalls in Texas House for the second time
Almost two hours after Senate Invoice 14 was dropped at the Home ground on Might 5, Rep. Mary González, D-Clint, raised some extent of order, a procedural tactic sometimes used with the intent to kill a bit of laws.
González argued that the invoice’s evaluation was “materially deceptive.”
Her level of order was profitable, and the invoice was despatched again to the Home Committee on Public Well being. The committee met briefly and voted 6-4 to ship SB 14 again to the total Home.
The Home is predicted to debate the invoice subsequent week, however an official date has not been introduced.
SB14 will probably be heard subsequent week. It gained’t be watered down. It should cross and turn into regulation.
— Dustin Burrows (@Burrows4TX) May 5, 2023
SB 14 was authored by Sen. Donna Campbell, R-New Braunfels. If it turns into regulation, the invoice would prohibit docs from offering puberty-blocking treatment, hormone remedy or gender affirmation surgical procedure to anybody below the age of 18. Docs who proceed to offer these remedies could be stripped of their medical licenses, the invoice states.
Kids who’re presently receiving non-surgical remedies, like hormone remedy and puberty blockers, could be allowed to proceed, with the expectation that they might be safely “weaned off” of the remedies. Docs wouldn’t be allowed to present them new transition-related drugs or start new therapy plans.
Transition-related surgical procedures could be absolutely banned. Gender affirmation surgical procedure is often not carried out on youngsters.
The Texas Senate permitted the proposal in early April. SB 14 should additionally cross the Home earlier than heading to Gov. Greg Abbott’s desk.
That is the second time Democrats efficiently delayed debate on SB 14. The Home deliberate to contemplate the invoice on Might 2, but it surely was additionally despatched again to the committee by way of some extent of order, which argued that a company talked about in a earlier evaluation of the invoice was incorrectly named.
A whole bunch of Texans each for and in opposition to SB 14 convened on the Texas Capitol on Might 2. Two LGBTQ+ advocates have been arrested throughout protests in opposition to the invoice, though the fees have been in the end dropped.
Individuals from each side of the problem as soon as once more gathered within the Home gallery to observe the proceedings on Might 5.