This blog is part of our 89th Legislative Session Recap series. Click here to learn more about how the bills passed this session will affect you & your community.
Official Bill Caption
Relating to the definitions of child abuse and neglect.
What it Does
HB 1106 dictates that refusal by a caregiver to affirm a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation cannot be considered to be abuse. This can include refusing to use a child’s preferred pronouns and name, even if their name has been legally changed. HB 1106 goes into effect on September 1, 2025.
Why it Matters
This law strips some of our most vulnerable youth of even the most basic protections. The legislation sends a dangerous message: Adults can emotionally and mentally abuse LGBTQIA+ kids, and the state will look the other way as long as that abuse is based on sexual orientation or gender identity.
This law has the potential to lead to devastating consequences. When a child is rejected at home, their risk of depression, self-harm, and suicidal ideation skyrockets. Policies like this isolate young people, discourage them from speaking up, and deepen a crisis of fear, silence, and invisibility.
Governor Abbott and the legislators who championed this bill are not protecting our youth—they are attacking them. In doing so, they’ve made Texas less safe for young people who deserve to be safe and embraced in our state.
What’s Next
In 2026, Texas Freedom Network and our youth organizing arm, Texas Rising Action, will endorse candidates who fight for every Texan’s right to live with dignity, make decisions about their own identity and future, and be free from government interference—whether that’s in the doctor’s office, the classroom, or at home. We are mobilizing communities across the state to ensure the voices of young people, communities of color, and LGBTQIA+ Texans lead the path forward.
