AUSTIN, TX — Independent Women is proud to celebrate a major victory for women and girls in Texas. Today, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 229, sponsored by Rep. Ellen Troxclair (District 19), into law—making Texas the 17th state to legally define “woman” and “man” throughout state code. 

This landmark sex-definition bill, modeled after Independent Women’s Stand With Women legislative framework, will bring clarity to laws that use sex-based words, prevent judicial activism, and safeguards the privacy, dignity, and equal opportunities of women and girls across Texas.

This marks the second major legislative action Governor Abbott has taken to defend women’s rights. In 2023, he signed the Save Women’s Sport Act (SB 15) to protect female sports in public schools and colleges. 

Now signed into law by Governor Abbott, HB 229:

  • Defines common sex-based terms, such as “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man,” already used in 131 Texas statutes;  
  • Helps protects single-sex spaces and opportunities; and,
  • Protects the integrity of sex-based data collection.

HB 229 will give meaning to common words so that Texas courts have clarity when interpreting laws that already exist, ensuring that women don’t lose their sex-based rights. The bill codifies President Trump’s executive order to define sex-based terms and reflects national consensus that Texas has an important governmental interest in preventing sex discrimination and preserving single-sex spaces.. 

Previously, Amie Ichikawa, Payton McNabb, Riley Gaines, and Independent Women testified in favor of HB 229, which drove bipartisan support for the bill in the Texas House. Ichikawa and McNabb also traveled to the Texas Capitol for a Legislative Day of Action, including meetings, press conferences, and advocacy, calling on Texas to define “woman” and “man” throughout state law by passing HB 229. Amie Ichikawa also appeared on the “Texas Values Report” to discuss her experience testifying at the Texas Capitol.


Payton McNabb and Amie Ichikawa advocating for HB 229 during the Texas Legislative Day of Action with Rep. Ellen Troxclair, Independent Women’s Network Austin Chapter Leader Michelle Evans, and the team at Texas Values 

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 Texas Values, and our mandate from Texas voters for this huge, shared victory!”

“Today, language is reclaimed in Texas law to thwart the invasion of  radical gender ideology. Thank you Gov. Abbott for signing this common sense legislation today,” said Riley Gaines, Host of Outkick’s Gaines for Girls. “After countless hours spent advocating for the importance of defining ‘woman’ in state law, Rep. Troxclair and her colleagues have achieved a remarkable victory for Texans. I am so proud to have been a part of this multi-year fight for women’s rights in Texas and thank all those who helped this bill get over the finish line.”

Amie Ichikawa, Independent Women women’s spaces ambassador, former prisoner, and founder of Woman II Woman, said: “Thank you Governor Abbott for your commitment to preserving fact based language and codifying the definitions of male and female for all of Texas. Your signature on HB 229 is reinforcing the infrastructure of American values and keeping Texans tethered to reality.”

Payton McNabb, Independent Women sports ambassador and former high school athlete, said: “I’m grateful to Governor Abbott for taking meaningful action to protect women’s spaces and affirm the truth about biological sex. This law is a critical step toward restoring fairness, safety, and respect for the integrity of women’s rights. As someone who has experienced the consequences of ignoring these realities, I applaud Texas for leading with courage and clarity.”

With Abbott’s signature today, Texas now joins 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 44 million women and girls.

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Independent Women’s Voice fights for women by expanding support for policy solutions that aren’t just well-intended, but actually enhance freedom, opportunities, and well-being.