Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill barring trans youth from accessing transition-related care
AUSTIN, Texas - Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 14 into law Friday, which bars transgender juveniles from getting puberty blockers and hormone therapies.
The measure was approved during the regular session.
The law is set to take effect September 1.
The GOP-controlled Legislature sent the bill to Abbott last month. Republicans in the Senate took the final vote over the objections from Democrats, who used parliamentary maneuvers to delay passage but could not derail it entirely.
Transgender rights activists have disrupted the Texas House with protests from the chamber gallery, which led to state police forcing demonstrators to move outside the building.
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Bill banning puberty blockers, hormone treatments for trans kids sent to Texas governor
If Senate Bill 14 becomes law, the ban would take effect on Sept. 1. This would also make Texas one of over a dozen states that restrict transition-related care for transgender minors.
Texas joins 17 other states in restricting transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapies.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and other groups promised to take legal action to stop the law from going into effect.
So far, no lawsuits have been filed.
Texas has become the most populous state to ban gender-affirming care for minors, joining at least 18 other states that have enacted similar bans.
The Associated Press contributed to this report