In a move that has stunned LGBTQ+ advocates, medical professionals, and civil rights organizations, the Texas legislature introduced House Bill 3399 on February 26, 2025, which aims to ban gender-affirming medical care for all ages—not just minors. The bill, spearheaded by Republican Rep. Money, amends previous legislation targeting transgender youth by replacing references to “children” with “persons,” effectively outlawing medical transition for any individual, regardless of age.
The implications of this bill are unprecedented in the United States. While several conservative-led states have implemented bans on gender-affirming care for minors, Texas appears to be taking a draconian leap forward by prohibiting access to these services for adults as well. If passed, H.B. 3399 would set a dangerous new precedent, criminalizing transition-related care that has been widely recognized by major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Psychiatric Association, as medically necessary and lifesaving.
A Dangerous Expansion of Government Overreach
At its core, H.B. 3399 broadens the language of Texas’ existing gender-affirming care ban to eliminate all references to minors, replacing them with “persons”—a chilling signal that the bill’s prohibitions would extend to all Texans, regardless of age. Under the proposed legislation:
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), puberty blockers, and gender-affirming surgeries would be completely outlawed for all individuals seeking to transition.
- Physicians and healthcare providers would be barred from prescribing or administering transition-related treatments under the threat of legal penalties.
- State funds, Medicaid, and insurance providers would be prohibited from covering any transition-related procedures, even if an individual was already undergoing treatment.
- Public money cannot be used to fund medical institutions, universities, or healthcare providers that offer gender-affirming care, further stripping medical access from transgender individuals.
This bill marks an astonishing level of government overreach, directly interfering with the medical autonomy of adults who have long been able to access transition-related care. It removes the ability of grown adults to make decisions about their own bodies, a move that flies in the face of conservative arguments for “small government” and “personal freedoms.”
A Death Sentence for Many Trans Texans
Transgender advocacy groups and medical professionals warn that H.B. 3399 will have devastating consequences for the thousands of transgender adults currently receiving HRT and other transition-related care in Texas. Studies consistently show that gender-affirming medical care significantly reduces depression, anxiety, and suicide rates among transgender individuals. Banning access to this care would effectively leave thousands of Texans in medical limbo, forced to either de-transition, leave the state, or seek black-market alternatives.
Medical professionals are equally alarmed by the bill’s provisions. Many transgender patients—some of whom have been in transition for years—would be cut off from their medication overnight, which could have catastrophic effects on their mental and physical health.
The bill would force those currently on HRT to medically wean off their treatment, a process that could take months and cause hormonal whiplash, severe depression, and dangerous withdrawal symptoms. Those who have not yet started their transition would be legally barred from doing so within Texas.
The First Total Ban of Its Kind in the U.S.
The nationwide implications of this bill cannot be overstated. While more than 20 states have enacted bans on transgender healthcare for minors, Texas would become the first state to completely prohibit gender-affirming medical care for adults. This raises constitutional concerns about government interference in private medical decisions and could set the stage for future challenges in federal court.
H.B. 3399, if enacted, would likely face immediate lawsuits on the grounds of violating the Fourteenth Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause. The bill’s sweeping language could also trigger conflicts with federal anti-discrimination protections in healthcare.
A War Against Transgender Lives
Critics of the bill see it as the latest salvo in an ongoing war against transgender existence in Texas. Many believe the expansion to include adults demonstrates that these efforts were never just about protecting children, but rather about erasing transgender people from public life altogether.
Texas has already seen a mass exodus of transgender residents due to increasingly hostile legislation. If H.B. 3399 becomes law, it is likely that thousands more will be forced to flee the state, seeking sanctuary in places where their right to medical care is protected.
What Comes Next?
H.B. 3399 is currently making its way through committee hearings, where it is expected to receive fierce opposition from Democratic lawmakers, LGBTQ+ advocates, and medical professionals. However, with Republicans holding a majority in both the Texas House and Senate, the bill has a real chance of passing if public outcry does not reach the ears of key lawmakers.
Activists are urging Texans to contact their legislators, organize protests, and challenge the bill in every way possible. National LGBTQ+ organizations are also mobilizing resources to prepare for legal battles and assist transgender Texans who may need to relocate for their safety.
For now, the message is clear: Texas Republicans are no longer just targeting transgender youth—they are waging an all-out assault on the right of transgender people to exist at all. If this bill passes, Texas will become the most restrictive state in the country for transgender healthcare, setting an ominous precedent for others to follow.
The Bottom Line
At its heart, H.B. 3399 represents a fundamental question: Do transgender people have the right to make their own medical decisions? Texas Republicans have made their stance clear—they believe the answer is no.
The rest of the country must now decide how to respond.
For ongoing coverage and resources, stay tuned to transvitae.com, where we continue to report on the fight for transgender rights and bodily autonomy.
