Despite holding a strong majority, Texas House Republicans killed 48 conservative bills this session.
State Republican lawmakers have said this session would be “one of the most conservative sessions in Texas history,” a claim that was also made in 2022 and 2021.
Yet, despite outnumbering Democrats by a margin of 85-64, GOP lawmakers in the Lone Star State thwarted bills on dozens of issues that are considered strong conservative priorities across much of the country, according to a list reported in Texas Scorecard.
As culture wars across the U.S. intensify, many conservatives and Republicans are pushing back on policies that would protect children coerced into obtaining sex change procedures and surgeries. The Texas House killed three bills that would have increased protections for minors seeking to detransition.
Under current state law, detranstitioners have two years to file a health care liability lawsuit over gender transition procedures performed on minors. HB 888 would have extended the time detransitioners have to sue. As noted by Texas Scorecard, the Calendars Committee killed the legislation by placing it on the calendar and letting the “clock run out.”
The same committee failed to advance HB 3502, which would have forced insurance companies to not only pay for transition surgeries, but to cover detransition surgeries for minors who regret the initial procedures and want to return to their biological sex. The legislation had already passed the senate.
A separate bill, HB 1029, which also passed the House, aimed to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to cover gender reassignment surgeries. The legislation passed the senate this spring, yet got killed in the State Affairs Committee.
SB 1601, which would have prohibited libraries that host events commonly known as “Drag Queen Story Hour” from receiving state or other public funds. Though the bill passed the senate, the State Affairs Committee stalled the legislation in the house.
Texas House Republicans also killed legislation on the following issues:
School Choice: SB 8, which would have protected parental rights by upholding the right of a parent to “direct the moral and religious training” of their child, as well as the right of a parent to provide consent to “medical psychiatric, and psychological treatment” of their children. The bill included language banning gender ideology and sexual orientation agendas in the classroom. It would have also established an Education Savings Account (ESA) program providing up to $8,000 per year for families to send their children to a school of their choice. The bill had already passed the senate twice.
Critical Race Theory Ban At Colleges and Universities: SB 16 would have barred institutions of higher learning from teachings suggesting or explicit stating that “any race, sex, or ethnicity or social, political, or religious belief is inherently superior to any other race, sex, ethnicity, or belief.” It also provided a mechanism for dismissal of faculty who violate the law. The bill passed the senate in April.
Red-Flag Law Ban: HB 1894 would have prohibited red-flag laws, which require a person to surrender their firearms and ammunition without due process after a mere allegation is made that the individual could potentially be a threat. It would also deem certain federal red flag laws unenforceable in the state.
