A new bill introduced in the Texas House of Representatives seeks to charge transgender Texans with a felony if they are found guilty of what the bill describes as “gender identity fraud.”
Republican state Rep. Tom Oliverson, who represents District 130 in northwest Harris County, filed House Bill 3817 in an effort to amend the Texas Penal Code.
The proposed legislation seeks to introduce a new criminal offense for individuals who “knowingly make a false or misleading verbal or written statement to a governmental entity or their employer” by identifying as a gender different from the one assigned to them at birth.
Under this bill, transgender individuals could face a state felony charge, which carries a punishment of up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
According to the Texas Legislature tracker, HB 3817 has no co-sponsors and has not yet moved to any committees — a sign that it may not pass during this legislative session.
Oliverson’s proposal follows a wave of anti-transgender legislation across the country, as lawmakers in several states continue to target transgender rights, particularly those related to healthcare access, education, and employment protections.
— Caroline Savoie