Monitoring the Session

SB 1999

Hughes Bill Protects Students And Staff Using Biological Sex Terms

Did not pass

Verdict: No flags

No flagsInitial review
Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

Initial review · graded Oct 22, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade

Caption

relating to protection for a public employee's or student's use of terms consistent with biological sex.

Caption from analyzed text · version H.

Summary

Schools and public employers can’t discipline anyone for it. Penal Code harassment gets no protection.

The bill bars public schools, charter schools, colleges and other public employers in Texas from disciplining, retaliating against or discriminating against a student or employee who addresses someone in terms that match that person's biological sex. It covers students and staff in K-12 schools and public colleges, plus employees of public employers generally. School districts can still adopt anti-bullying policies, and nothing in the bill protects conduct that counts as harassment under the Penal Code.

Labels

Labels: GOT HALFWAY. Passed the Senate on May 8, 2025. Died in the House: voted out of the State Affairs committee 10-5, no floor vote.

Receipt

The receipt

89R-SB1999 · 2025-03-06

SOLD BY

Sen. Bryan HughesRSenate 1

+ 5 coauthors

ITEM

relating to protection for a public employee's or student's use of terms consistent with biological sex.

WHAT IT DOES

Schools and public employers can’t discipline anyone for it. Penal Code harassment gets no protection.

The bill bars public schools, charter schools, colleges and other public employers in Texas from disciplining, retaliating against or discriminating against a student or employee who addresses someone in terms that match that person's biological sex. It covers students and staff in K-12 schools and public colleges, plus employees of public employers generally. School districts can still adopt anti-bullying policies, and nothing in the bill protects conduct that counts as harassment under the Penal Code.

CHARGES

[ ] NONE FOUND

TOTAL

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

HISTORY

  1. Received by the Secretary of the Senate
  2. Filed
  3. Co-author authorized
  4. Read first time
  5. Referred to State Affairs
  6. Scheduled for public hearing on . . .
  7. Considered in public hearing
  8. Testimony taken in committee
  9. Left pending in committee
  10. Considered in public hearing
  11. Vote taken in committee
  12. Reported favorably as substituted
  13. Recommended for local & uncontested calendar
  14. Committee report printed and distributed
  15. Co-author authorized
  16. Placed on local & uncontested calendar
  17. Removed from local & uncontested calendar
  18. Placed on intent calendar
  19. Co-author authorized
  20. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  21. Record vote
  22. Read 2nd time
  23. Amendment(s) offered FA1 Menéndez
  24. Amendment fails of adoption
  25. Record vote
  26. Passed to engrossment
  27. Record vote
  28. Co-author authorized
  29. Rules suspended-Regular order of business
  30. Record vote
  31. Read 3rd time
  32. Passed
  33. Record vote
  34. Reported engrossed
  35. Received from the Senate
  36. Read first time
  37. Referred to State Affairs
  38. Considered in formal meeting
  39. Reported favorably w/o amendment(s)
  40. Comte report filed with Committee Coordinator
  41. Committee report distributed
  42. Committee report sent to Calendars
FILED UNDER

SPEECH AND LAWFARE

THE TEXT

“A public employer may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against an employee of the public employer who addresses another employee or person in terms consistent with the biological sex of the employee or person.”

Bill text, House committee report version (H)

The bill shields public employees, students and school staff from punishment by public employers and schools for how they address others by sex.

SIGNED FOR BY

Senate · 20 yea · 11 nay

Sources

Senate: Final passage · May 8, 2025. Journal. Published stock for this vote. Snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

All floor motions and other positions below.

No flags

THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY

Bryan Hughes

Donors

GOPAC Election Fund$250KCRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100KCourt Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100K

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 1, 2024 to Oct 23, 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.

GOPAC Election Fund$250,000.00

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101028838, 101071548.

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)$100,000.00

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC$100,000.00

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.

Money

Missing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.

×

GOPAC Election Fund

$250,000.00

Cash
$250,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$250,000.00

Also funds 2 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · Jul 17, 2025 to Oct 15, 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: 101028838, 101071548.

×

CRAFTPAC (Court Reform Action for Texas Families)

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 0 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · on Sep 4, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

Name match, not a verified identity: normalized filed name and state.

Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Sep 4, 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: 101067724.

×

Court Reform Action for Families Texas PAC

$100,000.00

Cash
$100,000.00
Paid by others
$0.00
Total
$100,000.00

Also funds 32 other sitting lawmakers.

Derived recipient stock · Feb 20, 2026 to Oct 14, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.

TEC account match.

Team
Sources

Derived itemized flow · on Oct 13, 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: 101071548.

Votes5

Senate May 8, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The bill was read third time and was passed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11. (Same as previous roll call)

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 8, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1999 at this time on its third reading and final passage: CSSB 1999, Relating to protection for a public employee's or student's use of terms consistent with biological sex. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

CSSB 1999 was passed to engrossment by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
11
Nay
20
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

The amendment to CSSB 1999 was read and failed of adoption by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 20.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 11 (published)
  • Nay: 20 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Senate May 7, 2025

Yea
20
Nay
11
Present, not voting
Not printed
Absent
0
Excused
0
Names

Named positions matched to lawmakers. See the journal for unmatched names.

Senate journal

Sources

Senator Hughes moved to suspend the regular order of business to take up for consideration CSSB 1999 at this time on its second reading: CSSB 1999, Relating to protection for a public employee's or student's use of terms consistent with biological sex. The motion prevailed by the following vote: Yeas 20, Nays 11.

Published stock of positions for this vote, except where marked derived.

  • Yea: 20 (published)
  • Nay: 11 (published)
  • Present, not voting: Not printed
  • Absent: 0 (derived from named list)
  • Excused: 0 (derived from named list)

Senate journal. Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

Witnesses298
For
12
Against
284
On
2
Names

For

  • Self6 registrations
  • Self; Texas Eagle Forum1 registration
  • Self; Texas Right To Know1 registration
  • Self; Williamson County Republican Party1 registration
  • Texas Values2 registrations
  • The Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops1 registration

Against

  • ACLU of Texas1 registration
  • Human Rights Campaign1 registration
  • Self253 registrations
  • Self; ACLU of Texas1 registration
  • Self; Equality Texas1 registration
  • Self; Outreach denton1 registration
  • Self; Planned Parenthood Texas Votes1 registration
  • Self; Pnn, texas strike force1 registration
  • Self; Positive Women's Network1 registration
  • Self; PRIDENTON1 registration
  • Self; PWN Texas Strike Force6 registrations
  • Self; Pwn texas strike force1 registration
  • Self; PWN Texas Strikeforce1 registration
  • Self; Pwn texas strikeforce2 registrations
  • Self; PWN-Texas Strike Force1 registration
  • Self; Southern aids coalition1 registration
  • Self; TEA Fund, Pridenton1 registration
  • Self; Texas Freedom Network2 registrations
  • Self; Texas Strikeforce1 registration
  • Self; Texas Transgender Nondiscrimination Scholars1 registration
  • Self; The T.R.U.T.H. project htx1 registration
  • Self; Transgender Education Network of Texas1 registration
  • Texas Civil Rights Project1 registration
  • Texas Counseling Association1 registration
  • Texas Impact1 registration

On

  • Alliance Defending Freedom1 registration
  • Self1 registration
Sources

298 parsed registrations across the loaded witness lists.

Derived stock of witness registrations. Repeated appearances count separately. Organizations and self-representation appear as printed.

Senate witness list. Source snapshot 2026-10-20, Central time.

Fiscal

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

LBB estimate · fiscal note version E · source

Sources

Fiscal note · version E · May 20, 2025

No first-year general revenue figure available here.

LBB published estimates · flow over the stated periods.

Source snapshot 2026-10-19, Central time.

How this was graded

Analysis of text version H by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 22, 2026, against the published rubric.

Sources

Texas Senate · Filed Mar 6, 2025

05/23/2025 H Committee report sent to Calendars

Texas Legislature Online · Introduced · Senate Committee Report · Engrossed · House Committee Report

Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.

Coauthors
Bob HallRSenate 2 Adam HinojosaRSenate 27 Phil KingRSenate 10 Lois KolkhorstRSenate 18 Kevin SparksRSenate 31
Sponsors
John T. SmitheeRHouse 86

House committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 10 aye, 5 nay · Out of committee

Senate committee · State Affairs · Committee vote 9 aye, 0 nay, 2 absent · Out of committee

Subjects

City Government--Employees/Officers

County Government--Employees/Officers

Education--Higher--Health Institutions

Education--Higher--Institutions & Programs

Education--Primary & Secondary--Charter Schools

Education--Primary & Secondary--General

Education--School Districts

State Employees

GENDER IDENTITY & EXPRESSION

Text

The text as introduced · 318 words

2025S0179-1 03/05/25

By: Hughes
S.B. No. 1999

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to protection for certain individuals' use of terms

consistent with biological sex.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 22, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 22.905 to read as follows:

Sec. 22.905. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH

BIOLOGICAL SEX. A school district or open-enrollment charter

school may not discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise

discriminate against a district or school employee or student who

addresses a student or district or school employee in terms

consistent with the biological sex of the student or employee.

SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.9316 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9316. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH

BIOLOGICAL SEX. An institution of higher education may not

discipline, retaliate against, or otherwise discriminate against

an employee or student who addresses a student or employee in terms

consistent with the biological sex of the student or employee.

SECTION 3. Subtitle Z, Title 10, Government Code, is

amended by adding Chapter 3001 to read as follows:

CHAPTER 3001. PROTECTION OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE SPEECH

Sec. 3001.001. PROTECTION FOR USE OF TERMS CONSISTENT WITH

BIOLOGICAL SEX. (a) In this section, "public employer" has the

meaning assigned by Section 619.001.

(b) A public employer may not discipline, retaliate

against, or otherwise discriminate against an employee who

addresses another employee or a member of the general public in

terms consistent with the biological sex of the employee or member

of the general public.

SECTION 4. 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.