Legislative recap

As the 89th Texas Legislative Session concludes, Protecting Texas Children reflects on a landmark
first year of advocacy. Significant victories were achieved in advancing legislation to safeguard
children and strengthen families across the state.

Creating the criminal offense of promotion or possession of a child-like sex doll

Establishing the Texas Commission on Marriage and Family to study and develop policies that promote strong marriages and stable families

Amends the Texas Family Code to explicitly state that a parent’s refusal to affirm a child’s gender identity or pronouns does not constitute child abuse or neglect

Returning the authority back to the Texas State Board of Education to select instructional materials for all public schools in the state

Legally defines “male,” “female,” “man,” and “woman” in Texas law based solely on reproductive anatomy and biology, requiring all state documents and records to record sex strictly as assigned at birth, excluding gender identity from legal recognition

Requires health insurance companies that cover gender transition care to also cover costs associated with managing, reversing, or treating complications for detransitioners who regret their transition

Removes authority from librarians to school boards and parent-majority advisory councils, mandates public review of books, and empowers removal of graphic and profane content

Prohibits state and local governments from using taxpayer dollars to support abortion services or related assistance, including travel, lodging, childcare, and meals

Affirms parents' fundamental rights to direct their child's moral, religious, educational, and health decisions without obstruction and prohibits instruction regarding sexual orientation and gender identity in public and charter schools

Eliminates the current affirmative defense that librarians or educators can use against prosecution for distributing explicit/graphic to minors, meaning that educational or scientific justifications no longer protect these professionals

Requires all public school classrooms in Texas to prominently display a framed copy of the Ten Commandments

Mandates that public schools provide students and employees with a daily opportunity for a period of prayer and reading from the Bible or another religious text

Protects women from having men in women's restrooms and locker rooms