Latest news with #EllenTroxclair
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Texas will require state documents to reflect sex assigned at birth
In the middle of the night, the Texas Senate approved a bill strictly defining man and woman based on reproductive organs on a 20-11 party line vote. The bill has already passed the House and will go now to the governor's desk. House Bill 229 says a woman is an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova, while a man is someone whose reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova. The bill would require that this definition be used across state statute, with potentially wide-ranging consequences for trans and intersex people who would see their gender identity reverted back to the sex they were assigned at birth in state records. The bill, called the 'Women's Bill of Rights' was authored by Rep. Ellen Troxclair and carried by Sen. Mayes Middleton. Supporters of the bill say it's about preserving single-sex spaces, like bathrooms, locker rooms and prisons, and opportunities, like athletic competitions, which they feel have been threatened by men masquerading as trans women. Middleton said on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday that this was common sense legislation that aligned with state and federal executive orders declaring there are only two sexes: male and female. 'Your birth sex is your birth sex, period,' Middleton said. Democrats argued against this claim, echoing concerns from trans people and their allies who say it's an oversimplification of sex, gender and the spectrum of human experiences. San Antonio Sen. José Menéndez said it was a 'form of state-sponsored discrimination.' 'If a law forces non-binary Texans, who are real people, into categories that don't reflect their lived experiences or identities … that would actually become discrimination in practice,' he said. Many trans people have gotten court orders allowing them to change the sex listed on their birth certificate, driver's licenses, school records and more, and fear that those would be invalidated or reversed by this law. Heather Clark, an Austin woman whose wife is transgender, testified to a Senate committee earlier this month about the impact of her wife's documents being reverted to a male gender marker. 'Anytime that she is required to show her driver's license, she could be compelled to explain why her appearance doesn't align with her documentation,' Clark said, adding that could happen anytime she flew, took money from the bank, applied for a job or voted. 'That creates ample daily opportunities for discrimination, and that would make living in Texas untenable.' The bill does not create a criminal or civil penalty, but rather defines the terms wherever they are used in state law. The ripple effects may take time to sort out as state officials reverse engineer where and how these definitions must be applied. As Menéndez and Houston Sen. Molly Cook pressed Middleton on why this bill was necessary and what its implications would be, Middleton dismissed the legislation as merely a 'definitions bill,' noting that it has no criminal or civil penalties attached. But he also acknowledged the bill's potentially wide-ranging reach 'We have male and female, woman and man throughout our state code. It's in there hundreds of times,' he said. 'We never thought we needed to define that until recently.' First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas House passes two bills concerning gender, sex; time running out on other bills
The Brief More than 400 House bills still on the calendar State House chamber debated bills concerning gender identity House passed SB 1257, HB 229, and HB 4 on Monday AUSTIN, Texas - State lawmakers returned to work Monday with more than 400 House bills on the calendar and a deadline. Despite that long list, the state House chamber got bogged down in debates over gender identity. Both debates consumed the morning and early afternoon hours. What we know House Bill 229, filed by state Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R-Lakeway), would amend the Texas Government Code to define terms like boy and girl, male and female, based on biological sex. The bill also requires governmental entities that collect vital statistical information to identify each individual as either male or female. HB 229, which Troxclair called the "Women's Bill of Rights", passed the House by a vote of 87 to 56, with one person voting present and six representatives absent. "A bill that we shouldn't have to pass in 2025," said Troxclair. What they're saying "By defining what a woman is today, we are protecting their basic rights to privacy, safety, and fairness," said Troxclair. House Democrats, like state Rep. Jessica Gonzalez (D-Dallas), argued the bill will not protect but will discriminate. "Amongst the legislature, it is clear there is no way this body is qualified to define gender into state law," said Gonzalez. What we know Senate Bill 1257, filed by state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola), mandates insurance companies to cover any adverse medical side effects caused by a sex change procedure and also pay for those who want to detransition. SB 1257 passed on Monday by 87 to 58 with one present vote and four absent. What we know A major education reform bill, HB 4, did get on the floor Monday afternoon. The legislation would replace the STAAR tests by requiring less standardized testing, making them shorter and with more of a focus on the earlier grade levels. The bill passed with only one no vote. What's next Long debates and limited voting typically happen in the final days of a regular session. It's the beginning of the end for a lot of bills and questions remain about two of the biggest: bail reform and education funding. Either could trigger legislative overtime, a familiar crisis for lawmakers like state Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer (D-San Antonio). "I think none of us want to be around with each other here. I think we all want to go home on June 2nd," said Martinez Fischer House members are waiting for the Senate to move on HB 2, the education funding plan. The legislation reportedly was to move in tandem with school choice, which Gov. Greg Abbott has already signed. "I do not feel bamboozled, but the devil is always in the details. It's one of these trust but verify moments, and it's my understanding that we will break through on an education finance piece. The House worked pretty hard on it, spent $8 billion, and who knows, it could be even more at the end of the day, but we will have to see what the Senate does," said Martinez Fischer. This memo from House Democrat Caucus chairman Gene Wu (D-Houston) noted the Senate has had HB 2 for nearly a month. Wu suggested Democrats should take a similar pace with the remaining Republican priority bills. The deadline for second reading votes is Thursday and Wu has called on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick to restore balance as Democrats consider what level of cooperation they will offer on the House floor. The Source Information in this report comes from reporting/interviews by FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
LGBTQAI advocates protest Texas House bills targeting transgender rights
Equality Texas organized a rally on Friday with several advocacy partners to protest House Bill 229 and House Bill 778, which speakers argued would negatively impact the lives and freedoms of transgender Texans. House Bill 229, led by Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Borne, would require each government entity to only record the sex at birth of individuals, prohibiting such agencies from recognizing a transgender individual's gender identity or a person who identifies as "non-binary," meaning they do not identify as either male or female. Troxclair dubs it the "Women's Bill of Rights," saying the definition of sex needs to be clarified and codified to protect women, a common talking point to exclude transgender women. "We can't have women's rights if we don't even know what a woman is," she said in a Texas Public Policy Foundation video earlier this session. "We need to define what a woman is to bring clarity, certainty and uniformity in the way women are treated under Texas law." Of course, sex and gender can be far more complicated. The United Nations estimates that about 1.7% of the population is born with intersex traits, meaning sexual characteristics that "do not fit typical binary notions of male or female bodies." Furthermore, the Williams Institute estimates about 1.6 million people over age 13 identify as transgender in the U.S. alone, including 92,900 adults in Texas. Major medical groups reject insurance exclusions or limitations on gender-affirming care, and all world health and major medical associations recognize transgender youth, according to GLAAD, an advocacy organization for LGBTQ rights. House Bill 778, led by Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Plano, would put health insurance agencies on the line for "all possible adverse consequences" related to a gender transition and all follow-up appointments to monitor the patient's health. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: LGBTQ advocates rally against Texas House Bills 229, 778. Here's why
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas House votes to strictly define man and woman, excluding trans people from state records
Dozens of trans people and their allies gathered in the outdoor Capitol rotunda Friday, chanting at the top of their lungs. They will not erase us. The next day, the Texas House of Representatives preliminarily passed a bill that aims to do just that. House Bill 229 strictly defines men and women based on the reproductive organs they were born with, and orders state records to reflect this binary. The bill, titled the 'Women's Bill of Rights,' lays out the 'biological truth for anybody who is confused,' said author Rep. Ellen Troxclair, an Austin Republican. The bill passed on second reading 86-36 after an at times tense debate, and is expected to be finally approved next week before going to the Senate, which has already passed several bills with a similar focus. Surrounded by a cadre of Republican women, Troxclair said the goal of the bill was to ensure women's rights aren't 'eroded by activists' as more people come out as trans and nonbinary. Democrats argued against the bill for almost three hours with Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, saying 'it is harmful, it is dangerous, and it is really freaking insulting.' If this bill becomes law, more than 120,000 trans Texans would be forced to be defined in state records by the sex they were assigned at birth, rather than the gender they identify as, even if they've already legally changed their birth certificates and driver's licenses. Saturday's debate rehashed a deep fracture over sex and gender that has animated the Texas Legislature, and much of the country, for the last five sessions. In previous years, legislators focused on tangible questions of bathroom access, youth sports and gender-affirming care for minors. This year, the proposals that have gained the most traction reflect a more fundamental question: what is a woman? For conservative lawmakers, the answer is simple, and best defined by reproductive organs. For trans people and their allies, the answer is simple, and best left to an individual's assertion of their gender identity. Only one of those groups controls the Texas Capitol. 'We're a state that believes in truth, and we're a state that honors the hard-won achievements of women, the women who fought for the right to vote, to compete in sports and to be safe in public spaces, to be treated equally under the law,' Troxclair said on the floor. 'But if we can no longer define what a woman is, we cannot defend what women have won. We cannot protect what we cannot define.' In the bill, a woman is defined as 'an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova,' and a man is 'an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova of a female.' Democrats criticized this as overly simplistic, excluding trans people, but also intersex people and those who can't conceive children. 'Any biologist knows there are variations in sex chromosomes, hormone levels and other traits … where an individual's biological characteristics don't align with typical male or female categorization,' said Rep. Jon Rosenthal, a Democrat from Houston. 'The real question is, do you believe that all people have the basic rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of their own personal happiness?' This bill aligns with an executive order from Gov. Greg Abbott, who declared in January that Texas only recognizes two sexes, male and female, and a non-binding legal opinion from Attorney General Ken Paxton, who said state agencies should not honor court opinions to change someone's sex listed on official documents. At the Capitol rally on Friday, Lambda Legal senior attorney Shelly Skeen said revoking these changed documents, and preventing people from changing them in the future, 'affects every aspect of our daily lives.' Having a birth certificate or drivers' license that reflects a different sex than their physical presentation, or that doesn't align with their passport or other documents, could leave trans people in a legal limbo and potentially open them up to violence, she said. It could impact the state facilities, like prisons, they are sorted into, the bathrooms and locker rooms they are supposed to use and the discrimination protections they are entitled to, Skeen said. Unlike other bills, like the so-called 'bathroom bill,' this legislation does not have civil or criminal penalties for using a facility that doesn't align with one's sex. Troxclair did accept one amendment, by El Paso Democrat Rep. Mary González, to clarify how intersex people, who are born with both sets of reproductive organs, fit into these definitions. The chamber also preliminarily approved Senate Bill 1257, which would require health insurers that cover gender-affirming care also cover any adverse consequences and costs of detransitioning. The bill, authored by Sen. Bryan Hughes and sponsored by Rep. Jeff Leach, passed 82-37. Leach said he brought this bill on behalf of people who were left with tens and hundreds of thousands of dollars of medical bills because their health insurance wouldn't cover the costs of detransitioning. 'The illustration that I think best describes this is, if you take somebody to the dance and they want to go home, then you have to take them home,' Leach said during the debate on Saturday. The bill says that any insurance company that covers gender-affirming care must cover all detransition-related costs for its members, even if that person wasn't on the health insurance plan at the time they transitioned. Democrats filed more than half a dozen amendments to narrow the scope of the bill, critiquing the bill as a health insurance mandate. None of the amendments passed. Last session, Texas lawmakers outlawed gender-affirming care for minors. Trans advocates worry that raising the cost of covering gender-affirming care will result in health insurers not covering the treatments for adults, either. 'If you can make it painful enough for providers and insurers, health care is gone,' said Emmett Schelling, the executive director of the Transgender Education Network of Texas. 'It doesn't just feed into gender-affirming care. It bleeds into health care that we all need, that we all deserve.' Speaking on the floor Saturday, Rep. Ann Johnson, a Houston Democrat, said the Legislature was telling insurance companies not to cover gender-affirming care. "The reality is this bill, however you couch it, is about eliminating the existence of trans individuals in Texas,' Johnson said. 'Stop pretending that you're for freedom. Stop pretending that this is about the kids." First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fight against proposed rock crusher site in Burnet heads to Texas Capitol
The Brief New bills could force a controversial rock-crushing quarry in Burnet County to look elsewhere for development. The site in question sits near two state parks, a popular lake, and a summer camp for kids. House Bill 5151, which was filed by State Rep. Terry Wilson, will go before the Environment Regulations committee this Thursday. BURNET COUNTY, Texas - New bills could force a controversial rock-crushing quarry in Burnet County to look elsewhere for development. The fight against a proposed rock-crushing site in Burnet County traveled to the Texas Capitol recently. What they're saying "We said no," said Todd Sifleet at the Natural Resources Committee Hearing. "Now we need your help to protect Texas's resources." The site in question sits near two state parks, a popular lake, and a summer camp for kids. "Please don't ruin Camp Longhorn," said Austin State Representative Ellen Troxclair. "Please don't ruin Inks Lake. Please don't ruin the Texas Hill Country." Austin State Representative Ellen Troxclair is asking the House's Committee on Natural Resources to push her bill to the House floor. It would add restrictions to quarries or mines located within two miles of a youth camp, four miles of an entrance of two or more state parks, and within four miles of a lake owned or operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority. "I hope that you agree that this bill strikes a completely reasonable and common-sense balance between providing for the industry that our state needs and relies on while also protecting the rights of existing local residents," said Troxclair. In order to receive a permit, a site meeting the criteria would have to prove its operations would not harm a lake or state park. "If and when we are at the point where it's determined that they can do this, we need to know without a shadow of a doubt that it's safe and it is going to work," said Fermin Ortiz, who's with the Texans For Responsible Aggregate Mining. The backstory It comes after the TCEQ approved an air quality permit for a rock-crushing quarry near Longhorn Caverns State Park, Inks State Park, Lake Buchanan, and Camp Longhorn. "Is it reasonable to think though that the closer you are to this facility the more impact it could have on human health?" said State Rep. Brad Buckley in the committee hearing. "Again representative, we design our permits to be protective wherever for human health and the environment and so proximity whether you're five miles away or one mile away, the way we design it is that it's protective at the fence line so that it ensures protection of human health and the environment," said Sam Short, who was at the hearing on behalf of the TCEQ to testify neutrally. Camp Longhorn's owner, Nan Manning, has been advocating for this bill since day one. She worries the 2000-plus kids that come to visit each year could be impacted. "Tons of people live here. A summer camp, state parks, caverns and they want to bring this thing and set it right in the middle of all of that?" said Manning. "It would be different if it was already there and we decided to live next to it. Where are our property rights?" Under House comments on this bill, there are 150 pages of comments. Almost every single one is writing to support this bill. What's next House Bill 5151, which was filed by State Rep. Terry Wilson, will go before the Environment Regulations committee this Thursday. It's nearly identical to Troxclair's bill, but it specifies that the regulations do not apply to existing quarries or mines built on January 1, 2025, or before. The Source Information in this article comes from a House committee meeting, interviews with FOX 7 and bills filed in the Texas House.
