HB 3742
Public colleges face limits on pronoun instruction
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
Editor's call: No flags. On Nov 1, 2026 the editor checked this charge against the bill's caption and removed it.
Corrected Nov 1, 2026
Corrected Nov 1, 2026 · We checked this summary against the bill text and fixed it.
Reviewed · Nov 1, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from providing instruction regarding the use of gender pronouns.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Bars lessons promoting pronouns inconsistent with a person’s biological sex.
The bill bars Texas public colleges and universities from giving instruction that promotes using a gender pronoun that does not match a person's biological sex. It touches public institutions of higher education, their faculty and staff, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which must write rules to carry it out. Starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, that kind of instruction is off limits at public campuses, though the bill sets no penalty in its own text.
Labels
Labels: NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Mar 4, 2025 and referred to the House Higher Education committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB3742 · 2025-03-04
SOLD BY
+ 11 coauthors
ITEM
relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from providing instruction regarding the use of gender pronouns.
WHAT IT DOES
Bars lessons promoting pronouns inconsistent with a person’s biological sex.
The bill bars Texas public colleges and universities from giving instruction that promotes using a gender pronoun that does not match a person's biological sex. It touches public institutions of higher education, their faculty and staff, and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, which must write rules to carry it out. Starting with the 2025-2026 academic year, that kind of instruction is off limits at public campuses, though the bill sets no penalty in its own text.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Higher Education
FILED UNDER
THE TEXT
“An institution of higher education may not provide instruction that promotes the use of a gender pronoun inconsistent with a person's biological sex.”
Bill text, introduced version (I)
The bill limits what public colleges and universities may teach about pronoun use.
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 3, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC$20,000.00
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC
$20,000.00
- Cash
- $20,000.00
- Paid by others
- $0.00
- Total
- $20,000.00
Also funds 124 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Jul 10, 2024 to Oct 23, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
TeamSources
Derived itemized flow · Jun 23, 2025 to Oct 8, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101007132, 101027774, 101071421.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Mar 4, 2025
03/26/2025 H Referred to Higher Education: Mar 26 2025 11:31AM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Nov 1, 2026 at 10:30 AM CST. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Higher Education · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Education--Higher--Health Institutions
Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs
GENDER IDENTITY & EXPRESSION
HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD, TEXAS
Text
The text as introduced · 184 words
89R15598 CXP-D By: Shofner H.B. No. 3742 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to prohibiting public institutions of higher education from providing instruction regarding the use of gender pronouns. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.988 to read as follows: Sec. 51.988. PROHIBITION ON INSTRUCTION REGARDING GENDER PRONOUNS. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. (b) An institution of higher education may not provide instruction that promotes the use of a gender pronoun inconsistent with a person's biological sex. (c) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.