Texas Gov. Abbott signed HB 229 writing a binary biological-sex definition into state government code and excluding gender identity from recognition

On June 20, 2025, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 229, enacted by the 89th Texas Legislature during its regular session. The measure, whose lead author was state Rep. Ellen Troxclair, passed both chambers before being enrolled and signed by the governor, and took effect September 1, 2025. Marketed by supporters as a "Women's Bill of Rights," it establishes uniform statutory definitions of sex for purposes of Texas government.

The law defines "male" and "man" as an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova of a female, and "female" and "woman" as an individual whose reproductive system is developed to produce ova, defining "sex" as an individual's biological sex, either male or female. It directs governmental entities that collect vital statistics on sex — for antidiscrimination compliance or for public-health, crime, and economic purposes — to identify each individual as either male or female under those definitions. The statute makes no provision for gender identity in governmental recognition of sex, and its findings state that individuals with intersex conditions are not considered a third sex.

House Bill 229 followed a wave of state laws adopting binary "biological sex" definitions in government code, extending the pattern beyond single-domain measures such as corrections or school facilities to a general definition governing state records and data collection. By fixing legal sex to reproductive biology and excluding gender identity from official recognition, the law removes the basis on which transgender Texans could have their gender identity reflected in state records, affecting vital statistics and any state function that classifies people by sex.