Brent Money Proposes Statewide Ban on Gender-Affirming Care

State Rep. Brent Money (R) has introduced a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for all Texans, extending restrictions that currently apply to minors. The bill, HB 3399, would prohibit medical procedures and treatments related to gender transitioning or gender reassignment for adults and minors alike.

The proposed legislation modifies existing law by replacing the term “child” with “person,” and this effectively bans procedures such as puberty blockers, hormone therapies, and surgeries for all residents. However, the bill does include exceptions, allowing puberty blockers for minors with parental consent to help normalize puberty and permitting surgery in cases of genetic disorders of sex development.

Texans already undergoing medical treatments would be required to wean off their medications in what the bill describes as a “medically appropriate” manner.

In a post on X sharing a Fox 4 News article about the bill, state Rep. Money defended his legislation, stating that it would “protect all Texans” from what he calls “irreversible procedures that leave them scarred for life.” He accused medical professionals of exploiting individuals experiencing gender dysphoria for financial gain, pushing expensive surgeries and pharmaceutical treatments rather than offering “genuine care.”

“We must protect those afflicted by dysphoria from being permanently disfigured by a system that prioritizes profit over humanity,” state Rep. Money expressed in his statement.

Opponents like LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and civil rights organizations argue that such a ban would have devastating consequences for transgender individuals, who often rely on hormone therapy and other treatments as part of their transition. The Williams Institute at UCLA estimates that 93,000 transgender adults and 30,000 transgender youth live in Texas, making it the third-largest transgender population in the country.

Legal challenges are also likely.

In 2023, Texas passed a similar ban on gender-affirming care for minors, which was upheld by the Texas Supreme Court despite arguments that it infringed on parental rights. A pending U.S. Supreme Court case, United States v. Skrmetti, which reviews a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for minors, could set a precedent affecting Texas and other states with similar restrictions.