Relating to the placement of children in a detention or correctional facility according to biological sex.
HB 437 requires Texas juvenile detention and correctional facilities to place children based on their biological sex as shown on their official birth certificate or other government records. The bill mandates that facilities use a birth certificate entered near birth without non-clerical modifications, or alternative government records if the birth certificate is unavailable. It directly affects juvenile justice departments and facilities operating under Texas Family Code Chapter 51, requiring them to comply with this placement standard or risk losing facility registration. The law also prohibits fees for obtaining birth certificates for this purpose and directs facilities to consider safety needs under existing federal standards.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Feb 28, 2025
Last action May 10, 2025
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
13
Key actions
6
Committee
7
May 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report sent to Calendars
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee report distributed
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
lower
May 6, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recalled from subcommittee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Left pending in subcommittee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Testimony taken/registration(s) recorded in subcommittee
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to s/c on Juvenile Justice by Speaker
lower
Feb 28, 2025
Introduced
Read first time
lower
1 primary · 6 co-sponsors
Sponsors
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