AUSTIN, TX — Today Independent Women celebrates the Texas Legislature for the bipartisan passage of HB 229 as a major win in the multi-year legislative effort advocating for Texas to codify the definitions of male and female terms in state law to prevent sex discrimination and protect legislative transparency.
By passing HB 229, sponsored by Rep. Ellen Troxclair (District 19), Texas will define “woman” and “man” throughout state law. The sex-definition bill, modeled after Independent Women’s Stand With Women model legislation, will help protect women’s hard-earned rights and access to single-sex spaces and ensure the integrity of sex-based data collection.
Previously, Amie Ichikawa, Payton McNabb, Riley Gaines, and Independent Women testified in favor of HB 229, driving bipartisan support for the bill in the Texas House. Ichikawa and McNabb also traveled to the Texas Capitol earlier this month for a Legislative Day of Action to advocate for the pro-woman legislation through meetings, press conferences, and testimony. Ichikawa also appeared on the “Texas Values Report” to discuss her experience testifying at the Texas Capitol.
HB 229 takes the necessary step to codify President Trump’s executive order to define sex-based terms, and builds upon the momentum of pro-woman policies taking place across the country.
Rep. Ellen Troxclair (District 19), said:
“With the passage of the landmark Texas Women’s Bill of Rights in the Senate, our bill is now headed to Governor Abbott’s desk! Girls and women who have had their privacy and safety attacked and their opportunities denied will soon have the full protection of law.
“The words ‘man’ and ‘woman’ will now have clear definitions, giving a firm foundation to our statute, and safeguards to our hard-earned rights. I’m so grateful to President Trump, Governor Abbott, fearless advocates with Independent Women’s Voice, and our mandate from Texas voters for this huge, shared victory!”
Amie Ichikawa, Independent Women women’s spaces ambassador, former prisoner, and founder of Woman II Woman, said:
“Watching elected officials in the great state of Texas cast votes committed to reality based definitions of sex is the kind of encouragement that keeps me going and keeps incarcerated women, who are on the front lines of the gender war, hanging on. It has been so refreshing to work with folks in Austin who are not afraid to speak the truth and make moves to boldly protect women and girls.”
Payton McNabb, Independent Women sports ambassador and former high school athlete, said:
“I thank the Texas Legislature for Standing with Women and passing HB 229. They have done the right thing to safeguard the rights of women and girls for generations to come and prevent judicial activists from redefining ‘woman’. I look forward to Governor Abbott signing this bill into law and celebrating with all Texans on this historic victory.”
Michelle Evans, Austin Chapter Leader of Independent Women’s Network, said:
“The definitions within HB 229 speak volumes without saying anything new, and Texas women are grateful to Representative Troxclair for her perseverance and to Senator Middleton for his commitment to women’s safety.”
Mary Elizabeth Castle, Director of Government Relations for Texas Values, said:
“The message is clear: You don’t mess with Texas women. HB 229 makes sure that the reality and truth of the two sexes is clear in Texas law and never altered by school districts, local cities, or bureaucrats ever again! With today’s vote in the Senate, Texas will lay the foundation for protecting women’s spaces and opportunities”
When HB 229 is signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott, Texas would join Kansas, Tennessee, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Alabama, Iowa, Indiana, West Virginia, Wyoming, South Dakota, Montana, and Georgia in adopting laws inspired by Independent Women’s sex-definition model, positively affecting the lives of over 40 million women and girls.
For media inquiries or to book Payton McNabb and/or Amie Ichikawa, please email [email protected].
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Independent Women fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well-intended, but actually preserve and advance opportunity and well-being.
