AG Paxton declares gender-affirming care for minors constitutes child abuse under Texas law

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued Opinion KP-0401 on February 22, 2022, declaring that providing puberty blockers and hormone therapy to transgender minors constitutes child abuse under Texas law. Paxton issued the opinion in response to a request from state Representative Matt Krause, who sought guidance on whether gender-affirming procedures could be prosecuted as abuse. The opinion, while non-binding, directed the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate parents who facilitated such care for their children.