Trans Resource Navigator

Texas

ID documents
Restrictive
Care
Restrictive
Shield lawA state law that protects patients and providers of gender-affirming care from investigations, subpoenas, or extradition attempts by states that ban that care.
No

Texas is one of the most restrictive states for trans people's documents and care.

More about Texas

Adults can still change their name in district court (fingerprints and a criminal background check are required), but since August 2024 the Department of Public Safety and Vital Statistics refuse to change the sex marker on driver's licenses, ID cards, and birth certificates, and a 2025 law (HB 229) defines sex in state law as male or female at birth. Hormone therapy and other care remain legal for adults, but gender-affirming medications and surgery are banned for anyone under 18 (SB 14, upheld by the Texas Supreme Court in 2024), Medicaid excludes transition care, and there is no shield law.

This state’s pages are drafts written from official sources and not yet checked by a person. What this means

Your documents, in order

Most people go in this order, because each office checks the one before it. On every document, updating your name and changing your gender marker are separate questions with separate answers.

  1. Legal name changeState court
    Name
    LimitedNo newspaper notice, hearing sometimes
  2. Social SecurityFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  3. Driver's license / state IDTexas DMV
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  4. US passportFederal, same in every state
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now
  5. Birth certificateOnly if born in Texas
    Name
    YesAfter your legal name change
    Gender marker
    NoCannot be changed right now

Born somewhere other than Texas? Your birth certificate follows the state where you were born. Choose your birth state

Gender-affirming care

Adults
Allowed
Under 18
Banned
Hormone therapy and other gender-affirming care are legal for adults in Texas and are offered on an informed-consent basis by Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas and several community clinics.Find clinics, health centers, telehealth, and ways to pay

Local help

Statewide organizations

  • Lone Star Legal Aid[5]

    Free civil legal help for low-income people in Houston and much of East and Southeast Texas. Main office 1415 Fannin St, Houston; 713-652-0077 or toll-free 800-733-8394.

    • Free
    713-652-00771415 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77002

  • Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas[6]

    Free civil legal services for low-income people in 114 North and West Texas counties, including Dallas and Tarrant. Legal Aid Line 888-529-5277.

    • Free
    888-529-5277

  • Lambda Legal Help Desk[7]

    National LGBTQ+ legal organization. Its online Help Desk gives legal information and referrals about LGBTQ+ rights (it cannot give legal advice).

    • Free

  • Trans Lifeline[8]

    Peer-support hotline run by and for trans people, 877-565-8860. Also runs microgrants for ID document fees when funding allows.

    • Free
    877-565-8860Languages: English, Español
Sources for this page (8)

Sources

8 sources. Numbers in the text, like [1], point here.

  1. HB 229 (89th Legislature), general definitions for and collection of governmental information regarding biological sexTexas Legislature Online, Law. accessed
    “Signed by the Governor 06/20/2025. Effective on 9/1/25.”
  2. Opinion No. KP-0489, validity of district court orders directing state agencies to amend a person's sex on state identification documentsOffice of the Attorney General of Texas, Official page. accessed
    “State agencies must immediately correct any unlawfully altered driver's licenses or birth certificates that were changed pursuant to such orders.”
  3. SB 14 (88th Legislature), enrolled textTexas Legislature Online, Law. accessed
    “This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.”
  4. Texas state profileMovement Advancement Project, Organization. accessed
  5. Lone Star Legal AidOrganization. accessed
  6. Legal Aid of NorthWest TexasOrganization. accessed
    “Providing free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in the 114 counties we serve across North and West Texas.”
  7. Legal Help DeskLambda Legal, Organization. accessed
  8. Trans LifelineOrganization. accessed