By: Toth H.B. No. 4318
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to protecting parents and other individuals from criminal
investigations or prosecution for refusing to affirm a child's
homosexual or transgender inclinations or efforts to obtain an
abortion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 22.04, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (n) to read as follows:
(n) This section may not be construed to impose criminal
liability on any person for criticizing, opposing, attempting to
change, or refusing to affirm, accept, accommodate, or express
approval of another person's:
(1) homosexual inclinations or behavior;
(2) transgender or gender non-conforming inclinations
or behavior; or
(3) efforts or decision to obtain an abortion.
SECTION 2. Section 22.04, Penal Code, is amended by adding
Subsection (i) to read as follows:
(i) This section may not be construed to impose criminal
liability on any person for criticizing, opposing, attempting to
change, or refusing to affirm, accept, accommodate, or express
approval of another person's:
(1) homosexual inclinations or behavior;
(2) transgender or gender non-conforming inclinations
or behavior; or
(3) efforts or decision to obtain an abortion.
SECTION 3. If any provision of this Act or its application
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does
not affect other provisions or applications of this Act that can be
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to
this end the provisions of this Act are declared to be severable.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.