Texas House Bill HB2549

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

• Filed: 2/6/25

Caption

Relating to the inclusion of a person's sex on driver's licenses, commercial driver's licenses, commercial learner's permits, and personal identification certificates.

Impact

If enacted, HB 2549 would specifically target Sections 521 and 522 of the Transportation Code, altering how personal information is recorded on state-issued identification. This would ensure that all driver's licenses and related permits include the sex designation as a mandated requirement. Such a change may affect both private citizens applying for identification as well as state regulatory practices concerning identification issuance.

Summary

House Bill 2549 aims to amend the Texas Transportation Code to include an individual's biological sex on driver's licenses, commercial driver's licenses, commercial learner's permits, and personal identification certificates. The bill stipulates that the application for these forms of identification must provide a space for applicants to identify their sex as male or female as determined at birth. This change seeks to standardize the information collected on these documents across various types of identification issued by the state.

Contention

The bill may lead to debates surrounding the implications for individual rights and identity, particularly with increasing awareness and advocacy for non-binary and transgender rights. While supporters could argue that the bill enhances clarity and standardization for identification purposes, opponents may contest that it fails to recognize and accommodate individuals who do not identify strictly as male or female. This could lead to broader discussions about the role of state documentation in reflecting personal identity, especially in the context of evolving social norms.

Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected

Transportation Code

• Chapter 521. Driver's Licenses And Certificates
  • Section: 101
  • Section: 121
  • Section: 142

• Chapter 522. Commercial Driver's Licenses
  • Section: 030