TX
Texas Senate Bill SB1999

Texas 2025 - 89th Regular

Texas Senate Bill SB1999 Compare Versions

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1-By: Hughes, Hall S.B. No. 1999
2- (In the Senate - Filed March 6, 2025; March 17, 2025, read
3- first time and referred to Committee on State Affairs;
4- April 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
5- Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 7, 2025,
6- sent to printer.)
7-Click here to see the committee vote
8- COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1999 By: Paxton
1+2025S0179-1 03/05/25
2+ By: Hughes S.B. No. 1999
3+
4+
95
106
117 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
128 AN ACT
13- relating to protection for a public employee's or student's use of
14- terms consistent with biological sex.
9+ relating to protection for certain individuals' use of terms
10+ consistent with biological sex.
1511 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1612 SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 22, Education Code, is
1713 amended by adding Section 22.905 to read as follows:
1814 Sec. 22.905. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH
19- BIOLOGICAL SEX. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter
15+ BIOLOGICAL SEX. A school district or open-enrollment charter
2016 school may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise
21- discriminate against a student or district or school employee who
17+ discriminate against a district or school employee or student who
2218 addresses a student or district or school employee in terms
2319 consistent with the biological sex of the student or employee.
24- (b) This section may not be construed to:
25- (1) limit a school district or open-enrollment charter
26- school from adopting policies and procedures to prohibit and
27- prevent bullying under Section 37.0832; and
28- (2) authorize a person to engage in conduct that
29- constitutes harassment in violation of Section 42.07, Penal Code.
3020 SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
31- amended by adding Section 51.991 to read as follows:
32- Sec. 51.991. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH
33- BIOLOGICAL SEX. (a) In this section, "institution of higher
34- education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
35- (b) An institution of higher education may not discipline,
36- retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against a student or
37- an employee of the institution who addresses a student or employee
38- in terms consistent with the biological sex of the student or
39- employee.
40- (c) This section may not be construed to authorize a student
41- or an employee of the institution to engage in conduct that
42- constitutes harassment in violation of Section 42.07, Penal Code.
43- SECTION 3. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended
44- by adding Chapter 621 to read as follows:
45- CHAPTER 621. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH
46- BIOLOGICAL SEX
47- Sec. 621.001. DEFINITION. In this chapter, "public
48- employer" has the meaning assigned by Section 619.001.
49- Sec. 621.002. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH
50- BIOLOGICAL SEX. (a) A public employer may not discipline,
51- retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against an employee of
52- the public employer who addresses another employee or person in
53- terms consistent with the biological sex of the employee or person.
54- (b) This section may not be construed to authorize an
55- employee of a public employer to engage in conduct that constitutes
56- harassment in violation of Section 42.07, Penal Code.
21+ amended by adding Section 51.9316 to read as follows:
22+ Sec. 51.9316. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH
23+ BIOLOGICAL SEX. An institution of higher education may not
24+ discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against
25+ an employee or student who addresses a student or employee in terms
26+ consistent with the biological sex of the student or employee.
27+ SECTION 3. Subtitle Z, Title 10, Government Code, is
28+ amended by adding Chapter 3001 to read as follows:
29+ CHAPTER 3001. PROTECTION OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SPEECH
30+ Sec. 3001.001. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH
31+ BIOLOGICAL SEX. (a) In this section, "public employer" has the
32+ meaning assigned by Section 619.001.
33+ (b) A public employer may not discipline, retaliate
34+ against, or otherwise discriminate against an employee who
35+ addresses another employee or a member of the general public in
36+ terms consistent with the biological sex of the employee or member
37+ of the general public.
5738 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
5839 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
5940 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
6041 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
6142 Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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