State Sen. Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels) passed Senate Bill (SB) 14 in an effort to end child gender modification treatments after a controversial amendment was removed. The amendment previously passed without objection faced backlash from lawmakers and state party officials.
The contention surrounding the amendment included questions about the 90-day period that would have allowed physicians to continue treating and administering gender modification drugs to children already receiving them even after the bill’s signing.
Campbell chose to pull the amendment during a vote on the Senate floor this week.
During the vote, she argued that it should be removed from the bill because of the confusion surrounding the wording and that the amendment did not get a chance to be heard in committee.
The vote to pull the amendment passed 19 to 11 and the bill was reverted back to its original wording.
A third reading was then held to vote on the bill, and after a lengthy speech in opposition by Sen. Jose Menedez (D-San Antonio), the bill passed 19 to 12.
The Republican Party of Texas took to social media to applaud Campbell and the Texas Senate, saying the bill is “one of the strongest bills in the country banning the chemical castration and surgical mutilation of children.”
Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi, who was previously critical of Campbell’s amendment, stated online that the Senate didn’t “bow to pressure” when removing the amendment, and praised Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other advocacy groups for being able to “craft the strongest bill possible to protect children.”
Patrick also voiced his pleasure in passing SB 14, stating that “the practice of child gender modification is abhorrent and must be stopped in Texas.”
The bill will now head to the House to be moved into a committee.
Campbell thanked her fellow Senate members for passing the bill and said she looks forward to working with the House moving forward.
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