In the 2023 Texas legislative session, State Representative James Talarico cast a vote against Senate Bill 14, a measure that prohibited physicians from providing certain pediatric gender treatments – including surgeries, puberty blockers and cross‑sex hormones – to minors. The bill passed the House 87‑56 and was signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott.

Why Talarico voted “no”

Talarico defended his opposition at the time, arguing that decisions about pediatric gender treatments should be left to parents and doctors, not to politicians. He said the bill went beyond surgery and would restrict other medically‑necessary options for transgender youth.

Shift in position on surgery

Since that vote, Talarico has clarified his stance. He now states that he opposes gender‑reassignment surgery for minors and would back a national prohibition on the procedure. He maintains that his original vote was driven by concerns that SB 14 also limited non‑surgical treatments.

Attorney General Ken Paxton’s contrasting view

Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is also running for the U.S. Senate, has repeatedly defended SB 14. In 2024 he announced a lawsuit against a physician accused of violating the law, saying Texas passed the legislation to protect children from “dangerous, unscientific medical interventions that have irreversible and damaging effects.” Paxton reiterated in 2026 that the law makes clear such procedures are illegal and that tax dollars should never be used to permanently harm children.

Broader legislative record

Beyond the gender‑treatment bill, Talarico opposed several high‑profile Texas measures, including bills on school athletics, border security, immigration enforcement, school choice and abortion medication. All but one of those measures ultimately became law, underscoring the Republican‑controlled legislature’s agenda.

Impact on the Senate race

The 2023 vote has become a campaign issue as Talarico and Paxton face off in the November Senate election. While the legislative record shows Talarico did not vote to fund pediatric gender surgeries, his opposition to the ban is being highlighted by opponents who argue he is soft on policies they view as harmful to children. Paxton’s campaign, meanwhile, continues to frame the law as a necessary safeguard for Texas families.

What voters should know

• SB 14 bans physicians from performing pediatric gender surgeries and from prescribing puberty blockers or cross‑sex hormones to minors.
• The law also prohibits the use of public funds for any of the prohibited treatments.
• Talarice’s vote against the bill was based on a belief in parental and medical discretion, not on support for the treatments themselves.
• Paxton positions the law as a protection of children’s health and a fiscal responsibility.
• Both candidates’ positions on this issue are likely to shape voter decisions in the upcoming Senate race.

As the campaign intensifies, Texas voters will weigh Talarico’s legislative history against Paxton’s consistent defense of the ban, deciding which vision for the state’s children and families aligns with their values.

Original reporting: Lubbock Lights — read the source article.