People protest anti-trans bills at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, in March. Photo: Brandon Bell/Getty Images
A bill that would prohibit doctors from providing some gender-affirming care to children under 18 is headed to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's desk after the legislation passed in the state's Republican-controlled Senate on Wednesday.
The big picture: The Senate voted 19-12 in favor of the bill that would bar transgender children from accessing surgeries, puberty blockers and hormone therapies on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia.
- The legislation, known as Senate Bill 14, which passed in the House on Monday, is one of several anti-transgender rights measures rapidly advancing in the Texas Legislature along party-line votes.
Meanwhile, the Texas House earlier Wednesday approved Senate Bill 15, which would ban trans athletes from competing on teams that align with their gender identity.
Don't forget: Major medical organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association have warned that restricting gender-affirming care could have a detrimental effect on the mental health of transgender youth.
Of note: Transgender children who are already receiving treatment for gender-affirming care would have to be "weaned off" in a "medically appropriate" manner, according to the bill.
What we're watching: Abbott told Fox News Thursday he will sign the bill. Once that happens, SB 14 would take effect on Sept. 1.
Flashback: Texas' Republican governor was hit with lawsuits challenging his order last year demanding state agencies investigate families with trans children.
Zoom out: More than a dozen states have passed similar bans.
- As Republican-led states have worked to limit gender-affirming care for transgender youth, several Democratic-controlled legislatures have moved to protect it.
More from Axios...
- Texas leads in anti-trans bills
- Axios Explains: Gender-affirming care in the U.S.
- The fraught fight to stop the trans healthcare bans
- Corporate America is staying quiet on anti-trans bills
Editor's note: This article has been updated with new details throughout.