5 new Texas laws set to take effect next month

5. Established definitions of sex and gender

Starting Sept. 1, Texas will officially recognize legal definitions “man” and woman” under Texas House Bill 229.

Also known as the Women's Bill of Rights, HB 229 defines a man as “an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to fertilize the ova of a female,” while a woman is defined as “an individual whose biological reproductive system is developed to produce ova.”

With the signing of HB 229, Texas became the 14th state to codify official definitions of sex, with supporters saying the bill was necessary to protect women’s rights, while critics have claimed the law could increase discrimination against trans-identified Texans.