Texas would protect you at work, in housing, and in public places over your sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status
What it does
HB 174 would add sexual orientation, gender identity, and military veteran status to the traits Texas law already protects in three places: jobs, housing, and businesses open to the public such as stores and restaurants. It would create a complaint process at the Texas Workforce Commission, where a complaint has to be filed within 180 days of the incident, and it would let the attorney general ask a court to assess a civil penalty when there is a pattern of discriminatory practice. The bill would take effect September 1, 2027.
What it means for your community
If you were turned down for a job, fired, or paid less because of your sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status, you could file a complaint with the Texas Workforce Commission, and if the agency cannot resolve it you can ask for the right to sue in court. Renters and buyers would get the same protection, so a landlord or agent could not refuse to sell or rent, or change the terms of a deal, on those grounds. City and county leaders would have more say, because the bill lets local governments create their own commissions on these issues and lets the state send some housing complaints to a certified local fair housing agency only when that city already has laws covering the same discrimination.
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