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SB 14 Clears Final Hurdle in House

SB 14
Texas Capitol building | Image by Kushal Bose

The Texas House on Monday passed and returned SB 14 to the Senate, where it likely will pass and go to Gov. Greg Abbott for his signature into law.

The vote was 87 for, 56 against, and two were present but not voting.

The bill would ban gender modification on children and transgender surgeries or hormones for patients under 18.

The Senate has already passed one version of the bill.

The House debated the details of the bill on Monday before voting.

Rep. Joe Rosenthal (D-Houston) wondered if children born with genital abnormalities would be allowed to continue to undergo surgery if the bill becomes law. State Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-Cypress), the key sponsor in the lower chamber, said they would.

“That is not the subject of this bill,” Oliverson said after a five-minute debate with Rosenthal.

Oliverson said the bill would set the gender modification procedures aside and focus on children’s mental health.

“They can make their decisions [when they’re of legal age],” Oliverson said.

Rep. Lulu Flores (D-Austin) said she feared doctors would be afraid to cross lines with some care.

“As long as they are not prescribing prohibited medication, they have nothing to worry about,” Oliverson said.

Rep. Venton Jones (D-Dallas) said thousands of Texans opposed the legislation in protests and hearings.

“We have seen the anguish desperately asking us to listen and have compassion,” Jones said. “They are doing the best they can with the help of professionals.”

Jones said the bill was too extreme.

“What are we doing here? We are putting people in harm’s way. We should remove the blinders of disinformation and hate,” Jones said.

SB 14 passed in the House on Friday after attempts by Democratic representatives to scuttle through delays and amendments.

“Let me begin to say that there is no high-quality scientific evidence that puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries help children,” Oliverson said during Friday’s debate.

Republicans say the legislation is meant to protect families and children from getting care they might regret. Democrats disagreed, saying the push would deny health care to minors.

“The bill in front of us today is banning health care,” Rep. Mary González (D-Clint) said. “Politics shouldn’t determine health care, period.”

SB 14 was authored by Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) and carried in the House by Oliverson. Both are doctors.

“Grassroots Republicans have worked hard for years to pass legislation protecting children from medical butchers and greedy pharmaceutical interests,” Republican Party of Texas Chairman Matt Rinaldi said in a statement.

“Thank you to Sen. Campbell and Rep. Oliverson for your professional expertise, poise, and grace in ushering SB 14 through the legislative process.”

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  1. BREAKING | SB 14 Clears Final Hurdle in House – Round Up DFW - […] Dallas ExpressMay 15, 2023Uncategorized […]

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